MILL INFERNO

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20127, 22 December 1939, Page 11

MILL INFERNO

TIMBER PLANT RAZED SPECTACULAR BLAZE 50 FIREMEN ENGAGED BIGGER LOSS AVERTED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Five engines and 50 firemen fought a blaze Which totally destroyed the dressing and recutting mill of the Kauri Timber Company at Mount Eden early this morning. The fire was a spectacular one, 40,000 ft. of timber valued at £IOOO being destroyed. Timber valued at £12,000, mostly for Government orders, was saved as a result of efforts of the fire-fighters. The fact that there was no wind when the fire was discovered at 3.30 .a.m. prevented a large-scale loss. Immediately adjoining the mill is the shot tower of the Colonial Ammunition Company and the timber kiln of Henderson and Pollard, where massive piles of dry timber are • stacked. At one stage the intense heal caused portion of the timber to ignite, but the outbreak was quickly got under control. The paintwork of the shot tower was scorched.

When the brigades arrived the mill .was a blazing inferno, and it was realised that it would be impossible to save either the mill or the timber stacked in the immediate vicinity. The firemen therefore concentrated their efforts in saving the other timber and the neighbouring buildings. The mill machinery and the timber affected were insured for £3300 in the New Zealand Insurance Company.