Sandford Steam Flour Mills

TUESDAY, 17th DECEMBER.
SANDFORD STEAM FLOUR MILLS.
BY ORDER OF THE MORTGAGEE, and for ABSOLUTE SALE.

WILLIAM VALE has received instructions from the Mortgagee to offer for absolute sale, on the above date, namely, TUESDAY, 17th December, at M'Lean's, SANDFORD HOTEL, at 12 o'clock,

That valuable property, known as the Sandford Steam Flour Hills, recently erected in the township of Sandford, near the junction of the Glenelg and Wannon rivers.

The land contains 4a. 2r. Op., having a frontage of 165 feet to the main street, running back to the Wannon, all enclosed with substantial post and rail fencing.

The buildings are of substantial brick work, on bluestone foundations.
The Mill is 30 feet by 21 inside, three storeys high, each floor being 8 feet clear, the walls 18 inches thick, floors of the best pine boards, roof of corrugated iron, with a verandah 10 feet wide.
Engine-room, 14 feet high, 10 feet wide, 26 long ; boiler-house, 12 feet high, 10 wide, 26 long ; chimney, 5 feet at the base, 47 feet high ; store-room, 31 feet long, 20 feet wide.

Machinery.--Engine, horizontal, high pressure, 10 h.p. ; fly-wheel, l½ tons weight ; gearing of the latest and most approved style ; mill-stones, 4 feet, best French burr ; silk dresser, 16 feet long, 3¼ diameter ; separator, hoists, and all gear in excellent order.

Boiler, 15 feet long, 5½ in diameter, ¾ plate.

The whole has been recently erected, is now in perfect order, and doing an excellent business, being in the centre of a large agricultural district, with no other mill within ten miles.

Conditions, terms cash.
For particulars of title, and further information, apply to Mr. REYNOLDS, Solicitor, Portland ; or to the Auctioneer, Coleraine.

Serious Fire at Sandford.
DESTRUCTION OF THE RABBIT FACTORY.
CASTERTON, May 1

A serious fire occurred on Tuesday evening at Sandford, whereby Messrs. Quinton's rabbit factory was completely destroyed. The fire was noticed at about a quarter to 10 o'clock, when it appeared to be starting from the lower floor. The alarm was given, but as there was no water at hand little help could be rendered, and the flames, reaching through the upper story, where the skins and the timber for making the cases were stored, this part of the building was completely gutted. The engine room with the boiler does not appear to have been injured, and this part may be restored. The building, which was substantially built of brick, has been known for a number of years as the Sandford flour mill, carried on by Messrs Holmes Bros. and had been in disuse as a flour mill for a long time, the Holmes Bros., having given it up and carried on the Casterton flour mill instead. The main building was two stories high, but there was a large store room some 60ft long by 40ft wide attached. This was used by the Messrs Quinton as the receiving and cooling room and for making the tins ; a great part of this building was also burned, the roof falling in. The cooking tanks are not much injured, but the connections from the engine are badly damaged. The greatest loss is in the plant for cutting the tins; the connections, the timber and cases, quantities of tin and lead, some 4000 tins of rabbits, also numbers of cases ready for despatch of preserved turkey, goose, duck, and chicken, also about £100 worth of skins, also the day's delivery of rabbits, which were already skinned and cut up for the next day's operations. The office being on the outside of the main building, an opportunity was given to save the books. Most of them were saved, but the office was afterwards consumed with the main building. No cause is at yet known for the fire, There were people passing the factory as late as 9 o'clock, and they saw no signs of fire at that time. The building was, however, enveloped in flames an hour later. The cause of the outbreak is at present a mystery. The Messrs Quinton are insured in the United Australian for £500, but this, they say, will not nearly cover their loss. The building and mill machinery, belongs to Messrs Learmonth and Co., of Hamilton, but is believed not to be insured. Great sympathy is expressed for Messrs Quinton's loss, as they were plucky in starting an industry so beneficial to the district, and everyone had wished for their success. Their payments had been over £400 per month, which was not only a benefit to the rabbiters and working men, but was also doing much in assisting the landowners to keep down the pest which annually causes them so much loss. There is talk of a meeting being called together of landowners and others to take steps to assist the Messrs Quinton in starting again or establishing a similar industry.