HOTEL DESTROYED

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19145, 31 October 1927, Page 13

HOTEL DESTROYED

LODGER LOSES HIS LIFE. THREE OTHERS INJURED. (PRISS ASSOCIATION TSLZGBAIO MURCHISOX, October 29. The Commercial Hotel, Murchison, was totally destroyed by firo at 4 o'clock this morning, with a loss of one life and several injured. Many other boarders had no warning, and only managed to escape in their night attire, losing all their personal effects. The building was a substantial wooden structure containing 36 rooms. The flames took a speedy hold, and within 20 minutes the whole building was demolished. The casualties are as follow: — Bert Roulston,. boot repairer, dead. Tom Barclay, farmer, badly burned! about head, back and arms. Miss Shea, sister of the proprietor, slight abrasions and shock. Miss Flo Finnerty, maid, injury to leg and shock. The injured are in hospital and progressing favourably. The building was owned by Mr J. Duncan, of Nelson, and leased by J. A. Shea, formerly of Fairlie. Practically everything was destroyed, and' both owner and lessee are heavy losers. The insurances aro at present unavailable. Had a strong wind sprung up the whole township would hare been endangered. As it was, the Ross Hotel, McNec's Store, and the schooljiouse were fortunate in escaping. "Volunteer workers were instrumental in this direction. Tlio proprietors of the Ross Hotel extended hospitality to the sufferers of the outbreak, and many residents willingly provided wearing apparel. It is believed that the fire originated in one of tho back bedrooms, in the. oldest portion of the hotel, but the cause of the outbreak is unknown. The body of Roulston was located at 10 a.m.

A NARROW ESCAPE. (special to the press.) GREYMOUTH, October 30. Mr Whitelock, manager of . the Murchison branch of the Bank of NewZealand, who was boarding at the hotel, had a narrow escape, being singed about tho head and body before he was rescued. It is understood that a dance was held at Murchison on Friday evening which did not conclude until tlie early hours of Saturdav morning, and consequently all those attending the function had not retired when tiie outbreak occurred'.

DAMAGE AT MADDREN BROS. Premises situated at 28 Ferry road, and owned by tho Countess do la Tasteur, were severely damaged by fire and water early on Saturday morning. The building was occupied by Madtlren Bros.' waste products works. When the alarm was given the fire-had taken a good hold and burned fiercely. The building was insured for £2OO in the Commercial. Union office, and the contents were insured for £7OO at Lloyds.

FIRE IN CARET'S BUILDING. The police constable on duty discovered a fire in Carey's building, at the corner of Colombo and Gloucester streets, and gave the alarm at 4.11 a.m. yesterday. Fire had started in a rubbish box in a passage-way in the building and would have spread quickly if not discovered. The constable held the fire in check until the brigade arrived and little damage was, caused. The door connecting tho passage with a restaurant was burned through and a skylight fell in. _ : There was a. fairly serious fire in Carey's building some months ago.

; HEDGE AFIRE. At 3.55 a.m. yesterday tho brigade answered a call to the corner of Shakespeare road and Wilson's road, where a macrocarpa hedge was oh fire. The outbreak was quickly extinguished.

BLAZE AT NORTH BEACH. Dense clouds of black smoke rising from Pacific road caused some excitement in North Beach at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. A fire had started in the scrub on the unformed portion of.Pacific road, adjoining a big Council reserve, leased by Mr S. Parker. A .number of residents were soon on the scene, and with the aid of shovels and slashers, wero successful in confining the fire to the road. The residents of the neighbouring houses . had an anxious time, but by the time the New Brighton Fire Brigade arrived the fire had burnt, itself out. Had a'strong wind been blowing it is hard to estimate the damage that might hare be2n done.

Tbe need for protection against fire loss is obvious. Consult the Mercantile and General Insurance Co., Ltd., Hereford street. —6