BIG FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 14

BIG FIRE

TWO HOTELS BURNT

BLAZE AT GREYMOUTH

SHOPS SWEPT BY

FLAMES

(By Telegraph.—Presa Association.) GKBYMOUTH, This Day. About 3.30 this morning one of the worst fires in Greymouth for several years was discovered in. the Eoyal Hotel in Upper Mawhera quay. It had a strong hold upstairs before it was noticed. Many of' the boarders had little time to get out. Several women escaped in nigh> clothing and a, number of men bad"only time to grasp their trousers. One young woman jumped from an upper window and was injured. She was Mrs. Howat, of Kanieri, wife of Mr. C. Howat, junr. They were on their honeymoon and arrived yesterday. Mrs. Howat was taken to the hospital. The fire spread through the hotel rapidly. The building was fairly old and its timbers very dry, and it was soon on fire from end to end. The fire brigade had a difficult task, as the place wa3 blazing, when they arrived and the wind was against them. The hotel was to have been taken over today by Mr. Andrew Lees from Mr. Williams. Nothing was saved from the hotel, which was completely demolished. MORE BUILDINGS ATTACKED. More buildings were attacked by the fire, as the wind was strong and w.ater could not be got directly in front of the advancing flames. The brick walls kept the fire to the upper stories at first, and Mr. G. Webster had time to clear the stock of his umbrella :shop. Mr. S. Darrell's second-hand shop adjoining was not cleared, but the flames leaped across to the roof of the Railway, Hotel and .that structure was doomed. Some of the furniture was got out, but.it was impossible to save the rear part of the hotel, and cottages at the back of the hotel were destroyed. UNDER CONTROL. The fire threatened to- cross over to the shops fronting Mackay street, including Scott's, but the brigade checked it. About 4i40 a.m. the brigade had control. All the buildings mentioned, as well as Milner's jewellery shop and Mr. F. Dumble's tobacconist shop, were damaged ;by the smoke. THE INSURANCES. The Royal Hotel, 'which was owned by Mr. J. A. Lutz, of Wellington, with its contents, was completely. destroyed. The insurances on the building are £1500 in the Queensland Office and £1000 in the Phoenix Office, £250 in the National Office, and £270 in the Standard Office. The contents are insured, but the amounts are not available. Mr. Darrell's building was owned by Mr. W. M'llroy. The insurance is not available. The stock was not insured, and the loss is estimated at £800. Mr. ,Webster 'a building is insured for £750 in the New Zealand Office; The damage is partial. It is understood that the' stock is not insured. Most of it was saved. ■ ' . The Railway Hotel, in the rear, was damaged by water. The building is insured for £400 in the Northern Office. Mr. and Mrs. Howat and Mr. A. G. Smith were admitted to hospital. Their injuries are not serious. Fireman Blocksage received cuts on the hand, and Fireman Walton had a narrow escape from falling timber, which dented his helmet. The water supply is reported to have been very good. Wind from the Gorge fanned the flames.