Fires at Napier.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1922, Page 2

Fires at Napier.

[:BY TELEGRAPH— TER PRESS ASSOCIATION

NAPIER, Dec'2o

A disastrous fire occurred on Saturday afternoon, when Robert Holt and Son’s large sawmill was completely deptitiyed, and m. quantity iof timber stacked about the yard burned and considerably damaged. No estimate lias been made of the loss, but it will run into many thousands. The whole of the valuable machinery lias been rendered quite useless. Fanned by a strong easterly wind, the flames soon enveloped the whole factory. Tlie fireman were faced with the task of preventing what s-umi.'d .in almost inevitable spread of the fire through n whole block of wooden buildings. They displayed commendable fortitude, suffering all the time about the face and bands through the terrific beat. When the large building was one mass of fire just before the root fell in the spectacle presented by the dense volume of smoke and flames was magnificent, and the chance of saving the blocks seemed remote indeed. Against odds, the brigadesnion struggled, and in two hours had the fire under control, though its complete extinction necessitated work throughout the whole night. One cottage was destroyed, and backyard toncos and sheds were damaged. Otherwise the fire was confined to the mill and yard.

The insurances atv not ascertainable, but it is known they are small, and that the loss to the firm will be very 'ejonsidernble. Many workmen, lost complete kits of valuable tools. The staff numbers about 100. Probably all will be found einiii-yinent again by the firm whose activities are not limited to this mill alone. The fii-u started in the shavings hopper, and the fact that this was situated towards the eastern end of the building made the task of the strongyvind from that direction spreading it a light one. The shavings and dry timber burned with amazing rapidity, and rendered the efforts of tlie men working at tlie tinni ot the outbreak futile, The fire brigade was early on the scene, hut front the start the will was doomed,