FIRES IN SAWMILLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1917, Page 2

FIRES IN SAWMILLS.

IS THERE AX ORGANISED PLOT? Auckland, March 15. Seven fires have occurred within five months in sawmills in tile Auckland provincial district, resulting in almost every instance in the complete, destruction of the plants and stocks of timber. The mills concerned are: October 10, White Pine Co. of Xew Zealand, Xaumai; October 20, Gibbon's, Tangowhine; December 2, Bagnall Bros. .& Co., Auckland; January 5, Ellis & Burnand, Hamilton; January 12, Leaf, Mangaturoto; February 20, Woodsey & Allen, Dargaville; and March 10, Northern Timber Co., Hunt'y. A suggestive and even suspicious circumstance is that in every instance the mill was engaged either in the manufacture of huttei boxes or the production of timber for the purpose. At the present tiie export of butter for the troops is a matter of much importance, and that coincidence has given rise to speculation as to whether there may not be .'i conspiracy engineered for the interruption of the supplies. The origin of all fires is mysterious, but it is' a- remarkable fact that in several instances the outbreak occurred within an hour or so after the suspension of work Ur the day.