Fire at Hickson & Reeves’ Fiaxmill.

Manawatu Herald, 13 August 1903, Page 3

Fire at Hickson & Reeves’ Fiaxmill.

On Tuesday evening shortly after 5 o’clock a large column of smoke was seen to rise from the direction near the old ferry hill. The cause proved to lie the burning of Messrs Hickson & Reeves’ flaxmili.

It appears the men had not long left off work and everything was thought to be left safe and sound, but from the evidence of those who first saw the fire it would seem to have emanated from the engine room. Mr King’s engine in the mill close by was kept working for the purpose of water to supply the bucket bngfde, whose services were of great ae in preventing the fire spreading. Luckily the weather was very calm,; for if there had been a southerly, wpl Mr King’s mill would most likely frave suffered. No fibre was on band at the time of the fire, and the green flax was savedf The engine we are glad to say, is not damaged to any extent. The new mill, which is to be built parallel to the river, is expected to be ready to commence stripping in about ten days or a fortnight. This mishap we trust will soon be overcome by the owners, who have !>roved themselves to be enterprising n every way in the flax industry in this district.