FIRE AT ROTORUA.

GRAND HOTEL IN FLAMES

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The Grand Hotel, Rotorua,, caught fire, m the top storey about noon. It i_ believed to. be impossible to save the building. I*iter. — The Grand hotel was a twostorey building of ninety rooms, built m 1893, owned by L. D. Nathan and Co. and Hancock and Co. It contained albowt twenty gut«ts, one of wliom wires "Lost everything." The insurances on the buildings and contents total about £14,500. It will take about £10,000 to replace the building alone. There are no details of tlie fire yett. WELLINGTON, tha day. A telegram to the Postmaster-General from Rofe-rua reports that tlio Grand hotel is on file. There is no hope of sa-vin.g it. [The Grand hotel was one of the largest hotels- m New Zealand, and was meat liixuriou.vly equipped. It was specially fu.rnislw.id some three years ago for the Duke and Dnchosi- of York, to whom it was given up during their stay m Rotorua. The hotel was owned by an Auckland syndicate, which holds possession of all the other hoteli- m Rotorua-, and was managed by Mi- Lies. The destruction of the fine buiildiing just at the comm-eim^ ment of the tourist season will involve a very considerable loss to the ownere.] Later. — Tlie Grand hotel, Rotorua, burst into flames suddenly. In a moment all the upstairs seemed ablaze. Two visitors were rescued from, the halcomy. The fire was very fierce, and tha, small sliops adjoining m- Hinernioa, street weire m great danger. A smart breeze was blowing.

At 1.5 p.m. there was no further spread. The Chronicle office was endar_ gered, but the fire is now subsiding. The ini-uraTices on the Grand hotel total £14,5C0, distributed as, follows: New Zealand £400, Yorkshire £500, Royal £2000, Norwich Union £2000, Auetolian Alliance £250, Alliance £950, United £500, Royal Excising* £400. North Queensland £250, Phoenix £500, Standaid £500, Liverpool. London and Gilobe £1250, Imperial £1000, Guardian £1000, South British £500, Sun £500, Mancliester £500.