Disastrous Fire.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 21 May 1891, Page 3

Disastrous Fire.

— _• Lasb evening at a little after five o'clock the scutching shed and all its contents, connected with Messrs Williams <& Co's mill were utterly destroyed. As usual the origin of the fire is a great mystery. The owners had a number of tons of dressed fibre, ready baled, stored in the shed, expecting to have shipped them last week, but owing to the steamer being bar-bound at Mohikinui, they were unable to do so. The shed was therefore nearly full, and the mill stopped working at 2 o'clock to allow of the shed being cleared up, and as it was hoped, shipped away by the Wakatu, which was alongside the wharf. Mr Williams saw the captain about coming up to the mill, but as she was loaded with hemp that had been accumulating in the railway sheds, she was unable to go up the river. All seemed right, and the men knocked off to tea at five, and shortly after, when the cook went outside he found the shsd on fire. On the door being opened the bales were found to be in one mass of flames making it impossible to save anything. The fire is said to have appeared to have started in that part of the shed furthest from where the bales were stored. It is, without doubt, a most unfortunate accident, which will inflict a serious loss on the owners. There was about 70 bales of flax ready for shipment equalling some 14 or 15 tons, which in itself means a loss of £225, and with the loss of the building, scutcher, belting, &c, the total loss will be close on £850. It may be remembered that this firm had a fire some time ago which cost them £200, but they pluckily repaired damages and pushed ahead, and now they receive this severe check. Everyone sincerely regrets what appeal's to be their singularly hard fortune, and trust that this may be the final visitation.