FIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 84, 16 April 1913, Page 5

FIRE.

DESTRUCTIVE OUTBREAK. AT OHAKUNE. [Per Press Association.] Ohakune, April 16. A disastrous fire broke out at Gamman’s sawmills, Ohakune, last night at 9 o’clock. The whole mill and plant were gutted, and the loss is estimated at £20,000. Fortunately there was no wind, otherwise, probably, the whole town would have gone.

Over 200 persons have been thrown out of employment. Several cottages and their contents were also destroyed. Later. The fire broke out at 9.20 last night. An employee passed the mill earlier aid all appeared right. Ten minutes later ho saw a glare and raised an alarm. The employees'and residents quickly mustered, and made strenuous efforts to cope with the outbreak, but the fire spread so rapidly, and the heat was so intense that it caused the 4-inch water supply pipes to burst, and the hose was burned through almost as soon as the brigade got going.

it was soon seen that the mill was doomed, and efforts were directed to saving the adjacent buildings and the timber in the yards. With the assistance of the Ohakune brigade service in this respect, combined efforts were successful and the shaving shed, box factory, moulding shed were saved; also a large portion of timber in the drying shed, where about three tons of timber wore stored. The mill and the machinery therein were totally destroyed.

It was found necessary to tear the iron off the roofs of the sheds so as to facilitate the efforts of the bucket and fire brigades both doing splendid work. The only machinery saved in the mill was a Pacific Coast bench, which was badly scorched. Had not the intense heat put the water supply out of action, the progress of the fire would doubtless have been arrested. The insurance on the mill and timber wore £9OOO in the Norwich Union, but the loss is estimated at over £12,000. ■ One thousand and ninety men are idle. Both proprietors were absent, one being at Tauranga and the other in Taranaki. The latter is expected to arrive to-day. The mill has lately been going full work in consequence of unproved trade; hence there were large stocks of timber in the yards. It was the largest and best equipped mill in the Dominion. The fire originated near one of the boilers, but the origin is a mystery!