CONFLAGRATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 496, 19 October 1909, Page 2

CONFLAGRATION.

LOCAL FLAXMILL DESTROYED.

Shortly before nine o’clock this > morning a fire broke out in the tow hole of the Whitanui mill onthe river bank, and fanned by the westerly gale, quickly spread to the engine room and stripper shed. The alarm was quickly given, and in a very brief space of time a large body of men from the other mills in the vicinity and Messrs I,evin and Co- were strenuously at work fighting the fiery elements and salvaging the fibre in the scutching shed. The efforts of the bucket brigade were successful in saving the fibre and the scutching shed, after which all efforts were concentrated on the engine shed, which, however, was almost totally destroyed. The splendid suction gas engine, together with electric light appliances, were installed by Mr Jupp about three years ago, and before he quitted the property to the present owners, he was proud of the fact that he possessed the best equipped mill on the river bank. The machinery was erected at a cost of upwards of It is anticipated that the engines and gear, after a thorough overhaul, will be used again, as the heat was not sufficient to permanently injure the iron work. The fire will not only prove a serious loss to the owners, but will temporarily throw a number of hands out of employment. It has been suggested that probably a night shift will be worked at the Company’s Ora mill a little lower down the river, until Whitanui is ready to start again. The cause of the outbreak is not yet known. The first to notice the fire was Mr Frank who, while scutching, observed a flare in the tow-hole. A loose match in the fibre coming into contact with the beaters which revolve at a great speed, would be a sufficient cause, or fibre getting entangled in the bearings. Had it not been for the splendid work done by ready helpers, it is possible that the fire may have spread to the adjacent mills. There was no insurance.