MR LYSNAR'S EXPERIENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 128, 31 May 1901, Page 5

MR LYSNAR'S EXPERIENCE.

Mr. Hilton N. Lysnar, who was at first supposed by some to have lost his life in the fire, but who was fortunately away from the hotel at the time, told our representatives this morning- what he knew of the disaster as far as it affected himself. He is a station-holder at Waimata Valley, Gisborne, and was staying- at the Grand Hotel. "Last night." he said, "I, attended the ball of the. St. George's Rowing- Club in the Choral Hall, and it was very lucky for me I did. I.left the hotel about ten minutes to eight o'clock. 1 di-essed by the gaslight, and tui'ned the gas off before I left. There was a candle in the room, but I did not light it. In the ballroom about one o'clock this morning a gentleman came up to me and said, 'The Grand Hotel is on fire.' I went out to see; but as the place was a whole mass of flames I thought to myself that it was no use in going up there now, so I went back to the ballroom. A little while afterwards T heard there was loss of life, and I left the hall and went up to the hot£l, and reported myself to Mr. Johnston and the sergeant of police, so that they would know I was not in the building. I lost a good deal in the fire, £50 or £60 worth, including my money; in fact, I was left with only the dress-suit in which I attended the ball."

Asked as to whether he knew anything of the gentleman (Mr. Ayres) reported as missing, and feared to have been lost in the fire, Mr. Lysnar said: "There was a gentleman who sat at the same table that I was at at dinner—a rather tall man with a gTeyish moustache. I have not seen him since, and I hear that, he has not reported himself this morning, so that it is very probable he lost his life in the fire." ,