SERIOUS FIRE IN WANGANUI HOTEL

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5290, 31 December 1946, Page 4

SERIOUS FIRE IN WANGANUI HOTEL

CAUSE UNKNOWN , GUESTS ESCAPE IN , NIGHT ATT1RE (Press Assn. — By Telegraph — Copyrirjht WANGANUI, Last Night. Shortly after 10 p.m. the Rutland Hotel in Victoriaj Avenue, Wanganui/ caughfl fire and guests had to escapel in night attire as the oli wooden building, one of thl historic landmarks of thJ citv, blazed up. j The .Wanganui Fire Brigade, wi| five leads of hose, got to vol promptly and also used a pressJ pump to boost water to the blaze frJ th^ river, two blocks av/ay. I By 10.30 the- staircase leadinl .from the bedrcoms on the first floJ was fully ablaze and impassabil, and those guests then in the baiM ing had to make use of balcoitil and ladders put there by the fifl brigade. R The fire seemed to have a holdl the •back portion 6f the first floor, fl came creeping towards the Avejl It was at its * height as pictl theatres disgorg'ed their night afl ences. Pict.ure trams were held ■ The licensee, Mr. W. H. Edmo* was serving in the lounge bar w his daughter advised him of the I He went in search of his wife, I could not' find her. I She was subsequently rescued fl a fire escape. Mrs. M. D. Andersoj Wellington, suffered superficial «1 and was treated in hospital, f The cause of the outbreak is stj sent unknown. |