A HOTEL FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1920, Page 4

A HOTEL FIRE.

OUTBREAK IN THE IMPERIAL, TWO BKD-ROOMS GUTTED. A fire broke out in the Imperial Hotel, New Plymouth, shortly after 10.30 last night, resulting in two bed-rooms, with their contents, being completely gutted, When the alarm was given, smoke was coming from the end of the top storeyfating Currie Street, and presently flames burst through the roof, There was no wind, and the lire burned slowly. At this stage the brigade arrived, and before long the fire was extinguished. Tho origin appears to have been in a linen press room, from which it spread to two adjoining bed-rooms. The flames spread quickly through these apartments, breaking through the roof and the back wall, which partially collapsed. The occupiers of each room lost everything. The fire alarmed the visitors at the hotel, and there were many hurried departures into the safety of the street. The proprietor (Mr. Richards) gave his insurances as follows:—Building, two policies of £1125 each in the Office and the New Zealand Insurance Company; stock, £BOO in the Norwioh Union, and £I2OO in the United; furfliture, £250 in the Phoenix, £628 in th» New Zealand Insurance Company,