FIRE AT PUKEKOHE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4527, 2 December 1884, Page 2

FIRE AT PUKEKOHE.

Tho Settlers' Hotel Destroyed,

Ax alarm of fire was raised about 20 minutes to 2 this morning, and on hearing tho scene it was discovered that the building known as tho Settlers' Ilotol was in flames, and in less than half-au-hour it was completely destroyed. Tho lossee, Mr Jenkins, was absent in Auckland, and. the only persons . in the house at tho time wore two men on--5 gaged in painting the premises prior to an / application being made for a license. The j inmates had a very narrow escape. Mr / Dyer, onbeingarousedbythesmcllof firo.ran out of the room, and on getting to the head of tho stairs, was met by a volume of flame und smoke, that drovo him back. He then went and woke up his companion, who, on seeing the trap in which they were caught, I picked up tho blankets, knotted them j together, and calling on the other to follow, ran out to the balcony, and, fastening it to the rails, they inado their escape to the ground. The night was very calm,. Otherwise, tho neighbouring stores would have been in considerable danger. As it was, tlje inmates were very muchr alarmed, j It is 'not lfnoVu how the firo^originated;, nor the amount of insurance that is oh the bnilding.i.j.:Tli&pnly article caved beside .thGidqthingothe.''wri-iStoodnip in was a blanket.