DESTRUCTION OF THE AWAHURI HOTEL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 64, 6 April 1880, Page 2

DESTRUCTION OF THE AWAHURI HOTEL.

ONE MAN BUBNT TO DEATH.

Fatal accidents are following fast one upon another. In last Friday's issue we recorded the death of Mr Greaves, as the result of an accident on the railway line. Now, it is our painful duty to record the destruction by fire of the Awahuri hotel, accompanied by the loss of a life. The Awahuri Hotel was a large and wellfumished building, situated about midway between the townships of Sanson and Palmerston. It was formerly occupied by Mr Schultze, who lost his license about 9 months ago through neglecting to apply for a renewal in time. For some time after this the house was closed, the Licensing Bench refusing to grant the license owing to the application 1 being opposed by the natives who ' live in the immediate vicinity. About four months ago, however, Mr Schultze again obtained a license for the house, and Mr Samuels, of Wellington, who was largely interested in the property, took up his residence . there, furnishing the house handsomely, and removing his family to it. Two applications for a transfer of the license from Schultze to Samuels have been made, but owing to there being no quorum of the Bench) the matter has not been decided. Schultze was therefore legally the licensee. On Sunday morning, between 12 and 1 o'clock, the main building was destroyed by fire, and only the three chimney stacks stand on the site of the late hotel. The worst part of the affair is the loss of the life of a man named Chas. Manson, who has a grown-up family at Nelson, and who was burnt to death in his bed. The body has been burnt up to a cinder. Nothing but the bare fact has as yet reached us, but we learn that deceased stated to Mr John Reid, manager of the Douglas station at Awahuri, that he intended going to Awahuri to keep up his fiftieth birthday, and to buy some sweets to make a pudding, in honor of the occasion. We also learn that a servant girl employed at the hotel had a narrow escape from death, being compelled to jump out of the window of a room on the upper storey. Manson was working on some land in the Awahuri district. Grave doubts are entertained Jas to the cause of this destructive fire, which originated in the kitchen, and the police are closely investigating the matter. We understand the property was for certain insured for £2500, and there is also a rumour that there is another £1000 on it.