Destructive Fire at Makino.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 114, 9 June 1883, Page 3

Destructive Fire at Makino.

FACTORY AND MILL BURNED. £1,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY y ' A-'. DESTROYED. We regret to have, to record the total destruction by fire of the Makino Sash and Door Factory and Planing and Moulding Mill, which took place yesterday. The fire broke out about three o'clock in tbe afternoon, and is supposed to have originated from a spark from the engine, or the portable forge, the latter having been at work only a few minutes before the fire was discovered. The property is owned by Messrs Roots and Co., and included a large substantial twostory building, also an engine shed and other smaller buildings, together with a 14 horse-power engine, planing and moulding machine, steam chaff-cutter, belting, &a., the whole of which buildings and valuable plant are destroyed. The business of the mill and factory was carried on by Mr Charles Potts, who leased the buildings and plant from the proprietors, aud his loss is very great indeed, as it includes the whole of his valuable tools and implements, as well as a large quantity of stock, of the estimated value of at least £350. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Potts, whose Sole- livelihood depended upon the business, and who is greatly respected. By the fire he has lost absolutely everything, as we understand that nothing was insured in his "own name. The fire originated on the off side of the mill, near the engine and forge, and the only conjecture that can be arrived at by those who saw it is that a spark from one of these, driven by the strong wind which was blowing at the time, ignited the shavings from the planing machine. No person was in the building when the fire started, and Messrs Roots and Potts were engaged in conversation at the timber yard, near the railway. As soon fas the fire was discovered every possible effort was made by them and several other persons to extinguish it. but it had already gained too great a hold, and spread with such rapidity that in less than an hour' the whole building was destroyed. It was most fortunate that the wind blew in the direction it did, as had it been blowing the reverse way, a number of dwelling bouse.vPenberthey's store and probably the Railway station and adjacent stacks of timber would have been endangered. The total estimated damage is from £1,000 to £1,200. The buildings together with the plant, were insured in the New Zealand Office for £475, and the stock in the National for £200, making the total amount covered by insurance, including buildings, plant, and stock £675.