DESTRUCTION OF PALMERSTON SAWMILLS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 39, 26 March 1879, Page 2

DESTRUCTION OF PALMERSTON SAWMILLS.

About a quarter to nine o'clock last njsht and jist as the Wanganui train readied, the) station, the alarm of fire was given, as a sheet of flume suddenly illumined Ith? sky at the Terrace End. So quickl* d^id. i harst forth that although, the train had passed through, the lower, end of the tow^n $ut a few moments before, uone of the : passenger^ ;cjjuW give vUo. sfohtott c^uo.as

to the nature or locality of the fire. Scarcely a minute bad elapsed from the time when the more than usual light m the sky had attracted attention, when the flames shot up high above the roofs of the intervening house«, while the intensity of the glare gave evidence that it was a fire of no ordinary magnitude. As the alarm spread, the streets became alive with representatives from each house hurrying to the scene. When halfway down Broad street, it became apparent, that the Palraerston Sawmills were m flames, as the fire, fed by the stacks of timber and huge blocks of wood upon the premises, roared and crackled aloud. As it was seen at a glance that nothing could save the property, the attention of those on the spot was directed to removing the piles of boards which lay scattered on the ground between the burning stacks and the flourmill, standing about one hundred yards distant, and m those efforts they were happily successful. After some streuuous exertions to keep the flames from a large stack of timber, their futility was seen, and the firo was left to take its course. The proprietors, Messrs. Richter, Nannestad, & Co., hare been making great additions to the machinery, a new boiler having only been set m its place within the last day or two ; while a splendid engine, costing over £600, was resting m a shed ready to commence work m a few days. At the time our reporter left it was invisible, being enveloped m a mass of flames, and may be expected to be utterly destroyed. Last night no idea whatever could be' formed of the origin of the catastrophe, ths men who were working somewhat later than usual, when leaving, imagining everythiug to be m perFect safety. Mr. Nannestad informed us that it is his impression the iire originated somewhere outside the bnildings, as when ho reached the scene the fiam»s seemed to have most sway close to the vertical saw, which was at the outer part of the shed. Although the firm was insured for the total sum of £2000, we regret to state that will scarcely cover half the , actual loss sustained, not to speak of the prospective injury through the stoppage of the works. Up to a couple of weeks ago the amount of insurance was £2200, the odd £200 being m another office, but the firm thought it would just make the policies Hp to even money, and so the £200 was allowed to lapse. The insurances were distributed over the North British, South British, and New Zealand offices. The South British are responsible for £800; the New Zealand, a small amount ; but the largest loss will fall upon the North British. Quite independently of the] large destruction of property, the catastrophe will be a heavy loss to the district, us it will be the means of throwing a large number of men ont of employment. This was the second fire which* took place yesterday, as we regret to say a house belonging to a Scandinavian named Neils Christensen, living ou the Stoney Creek road, was burned to the ground m the morning.