FIRE AT SAWMILLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1376, 10 February 1905, Page 2

FIRE AT SAWMILLS.

About 8 o’oloek yesterday morning tho employees at Messrs Roke Bros’ sawmill, Mangakino, were aroused from their Biumbers by loud explosions of gunpowder and found the mill on fire. The fire had a good hold and it was found impossible to do anything to save the mill. The men then turned their attention to the engine and a stack of 200,000 ft ’of Hirst-class matai, which had been cut.to the.order of Mr Wm Cooper, and, assisted by the wind, were able to save both, with the exception of a few hundred feet of timber. ’ The mill was completely demolished, and the belting, tools, saws and a quantity of harweae also lest. Messrs Roke Bros carried no insurance on the mill, and estimata their loss at L3OO. There is no definite information as to how the fire originated, but it is stated that clumps of rushes were being burnt in the viciGity of the mill on the previous eveuiug and sparks from these may have got among the dry timber alongside the mill. It is considered more probable that a spark from the engine may have ignited a stack of slabs that stood near by.

The mill has been nsed in different parts of the district for the past few; years, but latterly has been established at Mangakino, about three miles this side of Whatatutu, where Messrs Robe Bros had obtained cutting rights over a large patch of busb. The mill has-been busily engaged for some time past and a large quantity of sawn timbeywas; on hand at-the timß of tbe fire, but wasjfortnnately not destroyed. The manager's house was situated about 150yds from the mill, and the workmen's whares wero also close at hand. There were about ninermen employed at the mill. Apart from their loss by not having the mill covered by insuranoe Mesßrß Boko Bros will have their operations interrupted for some little time until they can get the plant restored. - ■ -