FIRE AT KUMARA

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1929, Page 6

FIRE AT KUMARA

CO AIATERCIA L HOTEL DESTROYED

An alarm of lire was given at Kumara this morning about ] o’clock, when it was (found the Commercial Hotel in Seddon Street, occupied by .Mr Tyler, was on lire. , When the alarm was given, however, the plight that Kumnrn lias before been in was again evident, for there was absolutely no water to light the flamejs. This is the result of the sale of the Government water race to the AAestland Power Coy. The Alayor of Kumnra, Mr Spiers, at once cycled out to Dillmnnstown in order to have the water turned on, but its arrival in such a. case would lie a matter ril time. The hotel, situa.ted at the junction of Alain and Seddon Streets meantime became a mass, of Haines, and there was no chance of saving anything from it. The fire soon spread to the adjacent building used in conjunction with the hotel as,.a billiard saloon, and forme Tv used by Mr Burrell as a store. The billiard table was destroyed.. The Eire Brigade' lacking water,* determined to prevent the spread off the fire by pulling down ns much ol the billiard room as they could in. the circumstances. This expedient, along with a change of tile wind, probably saved Martin’s, hotel on the opposite corner, where the heat broke several windows. The telegraph wires near the. Commercial Hotef were damaged, hut it is expected that they will lie- repaired this morning. The insurances bn the Commercial Hotel were not ascertainable.

LATER. Insurance on (furniture' and personal effects £2BO (in Guardian):

Buildings owned by Massey and Bohr arts. £450 (company unknown). Neighbouring" premises and stock damaged.