Big Blaze Destroys Hotel And Three Shops

Chronicle (Levin), 4 August 1947, Page 7

Big Blaze Destroys Hotel And Three Shops

■Press Association

By Telegraph-

NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 3. The charred remains of John Alexander McKain, of Ohura, a miner, were found in the wreckage of the Grand Hotel, Ohura, aiter a fire destroyed the building eontaining 20 rooms and twu shops early on SatiuMay morning. All the other occupants escaped vvithout injury with the exeeption of Mr. G. King, a-ged 71, of Taumarunui, who suffered concussion l and shoek when he jumped frOm the first flour balcony to the street below. The fire originated in a first fioor room occupied by Mr. D. Fitzgerald. Wakened at about 3.45 a.m. by smoke he left his room to investigate and when he returned seconds later he found fiames shooting up the wall separating his room from that of Mr McKain. He raised the alarni and as the occupants rushed for safety by the nenrest available exits fiames burst from the windows and spread along the corridors and into the lower fioor with a rapidity that gave the boarders no chance to gather their possessions. Cut off from the stairways the men clambered on to the telephone line poles and verandah posts and slid to safety. By the time all 'occupants except Mr. McKain were clear of the building the fiames had spurted through the windows 011 both sides of the building and flared skyward to meet along the roofcop. With 110 fire brigade and only low pressurc in the water mains it was not possible to do any more than organise a bucket brigade in an endeavour to save a nearby bach and out buildings. The fiames, however, spread to an adjoining shop and a residential building which was destroyed. It'was not until a check of the occupants was made that it was diseovered that Mr. McKain was missing, but a search was then impossible. A police party combed the wreckage later in the moriiing when Mr. McKain 's body was found 011 a wire wove mattress directly below where his room harl been. Owned by the Rorevear Estate the hotel was leased by Mr. E Bromwich. The two shops in the hotel were occupied by Mr. J. C. Woodhouse, fruiterer and general storekeeper, and Mr. P. Russell radio dcaler and bus proprietor. The adjoining building used as a shop and residence. which was also razed. was occupied by Mr, D. Oovan, fruiterer and general storekeeper.