DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 186, 8 August 1930, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

GRAND HOTEL AT TE KUITI.

BOARDERS ESCAPE IN NIGHT

ATTIRE.

OTHER BUILDINGS AFFECTED.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

TE KUITI, this day.

A disastrous fire, resulting in the destruction of the Grand Hotel block, occurred at 5 a.m. to-day. The building was one of the oldest in Te Kuiti and was in the course of renovation. Fire had a strong hold before being discovered and the boarders escaped in their night attire, several being slightly burned and singed. The efforts of the brigade "were devoted to preventing the spread of fire to the block across the street, and even so the windows in the shops there were all cracked. The chief damage in the latter block was to stock in the Carlton tearoom. Insurances on the Grand Hotel building were £3500 in the A.P.A. Society and £700 on the furniture, which was owned by the lessee, Mrs. Halford. The whole of Miss Pine's stationery stock was completely destroyed. The Aard office furniture was salvaged, and Haines, butcher's shop was saved, but was damaged by smoke and water. The building, which was of two storeys and of wood, burned fiercely and the heat was terrific. The hotel contained about 60 rooms, and there are four shops in the block.