FIRE AT THE TEMUKA FLAXMILLS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1924, 3 August 1889, Page 3

FIRE AT THE TEMUKA FLAXMILLS.

About a quarter-past eight last evening a fire broke out in the scutching shed of the Temuka • Flax Mill works, and, a strong wind from the south blowing at the time, the building and its contents were soon a mass of flames, and were destroyed. It had been intended to continue scutching until 10 o’clock, so the men were all on the spot ac the time. A pump being handy, a bucket brigade was formed, and the men worked like Trojans to Subdue the flames. From the scutching shed the fire spread to the stripping shed, in which is a lot of valuable machinery. The fire got a good hold of the rafters and studs running along the whole length of the building. The efforts of the men were successful, however, and the machinery was saved, only the belting in this shed being destroyed by the intense heat. Ihe electric motor shed, which almost adjoined the scutching room, with the valuable motor, which could not be replaced in the colony, only received a severe scorching. From half a ton to a ton of fibre was destroyed. Messrs White (Manager), Brenton, Goodwillie, Higgins, Woodley, and Schmidt, who are working in the mill, and Mr Gregory, Mr Thomas and his man worked hard to subdue the flames, and it was solely owing to their exertions, and the fact that the wind was SiW., that the damage was so limited. At one time Mr White, the manager, feared the fire would master them, and sent an employee named Higgins to ring the Temuka firebell. The brigade did not go out, however, and happily their services were not required. Ihe fire is supposed to have been caused by a spark from the engine igniting some tow in the scutching shed, and the shed was a mass of flames in an instant. Had it notimen for the unfortunate accident that recently happened to Mr R. H. Postlethwaite it is probable the machinery would have been driven by electricity by this time, and the fire could not have happened.