BUILDING GUTTED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5166, 17 August 1927, Page 2

BUILDING GUTTED.

QUARTERS AT CRITERION HOTEL.

HEAVY LOSS SUFFERED BY STAFF.

Shortly after 11.30 o’clock this morning the firebell rang out and dozens of people flocked into the main streets to ascertain the cause- of the alarm. The reason was quickly apparent when clouds- of black smoke rose into the a.ir from the vicinity of the Criterion Hotel, situated in Normanby Road and Cassre-ls street. The scene of the outbreak was a block of wooden buildings detached from the hotel and situated at the rear-of tlie main building and used aa laundry and staff quarters. Fortunately the brick wall on the western e-nd of the hotel prevented the flames from spreading to the main building. That portion of the building occupied by the staff was completely gutted, and while the laundry was badly charred it is thought that the washing machinery is. not seriously damaged.

, The fire, which apparently originated in one of the staff bedrooms, was discovered by one of the employees who entered the building. The alarm was promptly given and, despite the fact that the members of the- fire brigade were working in different parts cf the borough, the engine and seven firemen, under Superintendent W. J. Moore, were on the scene within five minutes of the first tinkle of the bell. Two leads of- hose were quickly connected to the six-inch main, and a splendid pressure of water was obtained. Despite the fact that tire Hames were fanned by a stiff westerly breeze, the brigade did good work and had the fire well under control within half an hour.

Wil’ing hands made valiant attempts to get furniture, and personal effects out of the inferno, but they were frustrated by the heat and smoke, and only a few articles of furniture were saved.

Some of the staff lost everything, while with othej-s, what was saved is so badly ebprred and damaged by water as to render it useless. One of the staff not only lost every stitch of clothing, but a fair sum of money as well.

The cause of the fire is not <0 far known.

The building was insured in the South British Fire Insurance Office, but the amount was not ascertainable at the time of going to press.