Trouble at the mill

A well-known landmark of North Dunedin situated in the little used Mill street, off King street, and adjoining the Water of Leith Stream was destroyed about daybreak yesterday morning when Harraway Bros’ flourmill was gutted by fire. The mill had been known to a generation of North Dunedin people, and, possessed historic interest in that, up to a few years ago, it was the sole survivor in the city of the sturdy old type of water-driven mills. Recently, however, it succumbed to the demands of modern industry, and had been fitted out with up-to-date flour-grinding machinery, being considered one of the most efficient mills in the province.

At 4.5 yesterday morning the Fire Brigade received, almost simultaneously, three calls from the alarms at the corners of George and Edina, Cumberland and Howe, and King and Duke streets, and within 10 minutes two reels and the new Leyland pump were on the scene of the most serious conflagration which has occurred in North Dunedin for many years. On arrival at Mill road, it was seen that the flourmill, was burning fiercely.

The sight was an awe-inspiring one. From the granary spouted a mass of flames, 60 feet high, which tinted the half-lighted sky with a weird purplish red, whilst dense clouds of black smoke billowed forth and shrouded the locality within a radius of a quarter of a mile with a heavy black pall. 

The brigade soon had six leads of hose run out, and clouds of steam rising from the building indicated that the water had reached the seat of the fire. Unfortunately, the water pressure from the city mains were lamentably weak, and the fire seemed to be slowly gaining ground. 

The brigade's new Leyland pump was brought into action for the first time in Dunedin, and promptly demonstrated that as a means of reinforcing weak water pressure it is invaluable. From 60 pounds the pressure swiftly rose to 110 pounds to the square inch, with the result that instead of a feeble dribble, the nozzles connected through the pump were soon throwing a stream of water with a velocity, that necessitated the combined efforts of three men to hold each of them.

The cause of thee fire, and the exact place of its origin, are unknown, but indications point to the northern end of the building, which houses the motor which supplied power to the mill. An eye-witness, who was one of the first on the scene, states that at first the fire seemed to be in this part of the building only, but spread rapidly before the arrival of the brigade.

As all landmarks should have, this mill has an interesting history. Originally built by Messrs Duncan and Young in the early sixties, it was completely destroyed by fire and  rebuilt by then owners Messrs Wilson and Duncan, who later sold out to Mr George Duncan. Its next were Messrs Royse and Stead, then Messrs Royse, Smith, Webster, Fotheringham and White, from whom it was acquired by A. Steven and Co. On the advent of electric power, the old water-wheel was done away with, and modern machinery installed. The mill was purchased by Messrs Harraway in 1921, and has been run by them up to the present.

Mr Harraway sen considered that £20,000 would be a conservative estimate of the damage. — ODT, 29.10.1925

Compiled by Peter Dowden