HOTEL BURNED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 3

HOTEL BURNED

FIRE AT WAIWERA OCCUPANTS ESCAPE TIMELY WARNING GIVEN (Special to tho Herald.) AUCKLAND, this dny. Fire which broke out at about .12.30 (his morning destroyed the Hot Springs Hotel at Waiwcra. Tiie stall and two guests escaped belore the flames, which had started in the front room, swept through the building. The alarm was given by Mr. R. Darling, who lives 50yds from the hotel. Ho was awakened by his mother, Mrs. M. Darling, who had seen the glow of the flames. Running into the hotel, he roused the staff, who were sleeping on the ground floor. He then attempted to warn two guests on the upper floor, but was driven back by the beat and smoke. Fortunately both had been awakened by the roar of the flames and they descended by the fire escape. Within half an. hour the building, an old wooden two-storey structure, was ablaze from end to end, and as no water was available spectators had to stand helplessly by. Tiie only water supply was underneath tiie hotel itself and the flames were so fierce that no one could approach. Owing to Hie fact that tiie wind was i light northerly, none of the outbuildings caught five, but trees in the garden were soon ablaze. »

Only a few personal belongings were salvaged from, the building. Tiie licensee, Mr. Collins, was not at Waiwcra at tiie time.

The glare was plainly visible from Ihe Auckland eastern waterfront.