LOSS BY FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 25, 10 November 1930, Page 5

LOSS BY FIRE

AN HOTEL AT HAVELOCK.

OCCUPANTS’ NARROW ESCAPE.

JUMP FROM SECOND STOREY. (Per Press Association.') BLENHEIM, This Day. Fire early yesterday morning destroyed the Commercial Hotel, Havelock, together with its contents. It was a wooden two-storey building, comprising 30 rooms. The fire apparently started in the centre of the house near the foot of the main staircase, and the draught carried the flames to the upper storey. When the occupants awakened they found the corridors full of smoke and the fire compelled them to make a hurried exit through the windows, not having time to save anything. > Miss Henderson, a waitress, and a little girl, Rona King, had to jump from the second storey windows. Miss Henderson ricked her back, and It-ona King sustained l a sprained ankle. Mr Robert Campbell, a boarder, dashed into the passage and, blinded by smoke, could not regain his room. After groping through the flames, ho found his way to the back stairway, gaining the open air with his head, face, neck and arms severely burned. He was conveyed to the Wairau Hospital, Blenheim, where he is reported to be progressing favourably. The building was beyond saving when the brigade was called, but excellent work was performed, preventing the spread of the flames to the adjacent premises. The hotel was owned by Brownlee and Co., Wellington, and is believed to be insured for £2500 in the Commercial Union Office. The licensee, Mr Clarence H. Mills, had his furniture and contents insured for £6OO in the Sun Office. The bar stock was covered for £2OOO in the North British Office. |

COMBINED SHOP AND DWELLINC. (Per Press Association.) TEi AWAMUTU, November 8. Fire at Kihikihi last night destroyed a combined shop and dwelling of six rooms. In the absence of a water supply the building was completely destroyed, and all efforts were concentrated to stop the spread of flames to an adjoining hotel. The shop was occupied by Mr William Taylor, bootmaker. The dwelling was occupied by Mr C. Dyer. The furniture and effects were insured for £l5O. The building was owned by Mr F. C. McFlinn, and insured for £SOO in the Queensland Office.

MAN OVERCOME BY SMOKE.

OAAIARU, November 9

At an early hour this morning a house in Ure Street, owned by the estate of the late Mrs Direen, was gutted by fire. The sole occupant, a youno- man, Mr Thomas Direen, escaped in his night attire, but thinking bis sisters might have returned from Timaru, where they were visiting a sick brother, lie broke into the burning house to make a search. He received severe cuts and was paitially overcome by smoke. He was removed to the hospital, where he is doing well.