DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 March 1941, Page 7

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

AT TIMARU FLOUR MILL. MUCH MACHINERY DESTROYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, March 28. Damage estimated at many thousands of pounds was caused by a firejn a flourmill owned by J. R. Bruce, Ltd., in Timaru this afternoon. The fire broke out in the top floor on the wheatcleaning side of the building, and by the time the brigade arrived the third story was also alight. After half an hour the ‘ outbreak appeared to be under control, as by then no flames were visible with the exception of a few smouldering beams, but ten minutes later the roof of the mill was found to be ablaze. Despite the fact that there was a brick wall between the two sections of the building, the flames penetrated to the roof and gradually worked down to the first floor. Meanwhile the roof and the top floor collapsed. Of five stories, four were seriously damaged, and the machinery on the upper floors, comprising a sifting and scalping plant, together with fans and elevators, are a complete loss. Plant on the ground floor, comprising roller mill machinery, was not seriously damaged. Valuable wheat-condition-ing and modern cleaning machinery was also lost.

Insurance on the mill building and plant in the burnt portion amounts to £25.000. The biscuit factory was not affected.