HOTEL DESTROYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 236, 5 October 1936, Page 3

HOTEL DESTROYED.

BLAZE AT KAMO. CHILDREN GIVE ALARM. OWNERS' HEAVY LOSS. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. The Kamo Hotel, a two-storeyed building on the main northern highway, was completely destroyed by lire early on Saturday evening. The owner and licensee, Mr. W. J. Brydon, and Mrs. Brydon, their two children, and members of the domestic stall,-the only persons 011 the premises at the time, escaped uninjured, but Mrs. Brydon is suffering from the effects of shock. Mr. and Mrs. Brydon are heavy losers.

The hotel, which comprised 24 rooms, was built about 30 years ago, when the original Kamo Hotel, one of the first licensed houses in the North, was burned down. It was considerably enlarged a few years ago by additions to the top storey.

The lire was a most spectacular one, flames leaping to a great height. Had there been any wind the township would have been endangered. Even though the night was still, sparks fell over a wide area.

The fire was discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Brydon's daughters, Jean, aged 12, and Valnia, aged 8. About 8.15 they were retiring for the night, when Jean remarked that she could smell rags burning. Mrs. Brydon then came into the room, but could detect nothing amiss. The other girl, standing on the floor in her bare feet, said that the boards felt hot, and then smoke was seen coming through the floor. The startled cries of the children were heard by Mr. Brydon, who was sitting in front of an open lire in the commercial room. After a search he noticed smoke emerging from the ceiling adjacent to the fireplace. The seat of the lire appeared to be a cupboard housing a hot water cylinder by the chimney. Part of the Building Falls. The flames had obtained a strong hold, and in quiclc time the rear portion of the building collapsed. A large number of local residents and others attempted to save stock and furniture from the ground floor, while fa few things were thrown from the upstairs windows.

Large barrels of beer and cases and bottles of liquor were carried from the front and side entrances of the hotel to waiting lorries, while furniture was removed from the commercial room. Little else was saved, and a large part of the contents of the bar and storeroom was destroyed. "The men worked like Trojans," Mr. Brydon said after the lire. ."They persisted in going back for more loads, although the electric lights looked like match points, and I was afraid'they would be overcome by the smoke." Continuation of salvage work soon became impossible, and the blaze had got such a strong lrold by the time the Whangarei Volunteer Fire Brigade had made a three-mile journey from the station that even had a water supply been available nothing could have been done to save the building. Flames leapt 40ft and 50ft into the sky, and sparks fell over a wide area. A large crowd watched the rapid destruction of what had long been a familiar landmark. Loud Explosions. When the fire was at its height a series of loud explosions was heard. Thinking that ammunition was discharging many onlookers became alarmed, but the reports were merely due to the explosion of gas cylinders used in the manufacture of lemonade. When the roof crashed, about 0.15, the spectacle reached its height. Within three-quarters of an hour the whole building had been levelled to the ground. The brigade concentrated upon saving adjoining property. At one stage McKay's confectionery store, next to the hotel, started to smoulder, while on the opposite side the electrical transformer poles caught alight. A volunteer bucket brigade, comprising mostly local residents, carried water from a horse trough and kept the 40-galion tank on the fire engine full. Except for a few suits belonging to Mr. Brydon, the family lost all their possessions, including a number of suitcases which Mrs. Brydon had packed in anticipation of leaving this month on a holiday trip to the South Seas. Six years ago Mr. and Mrs. Brydon were victims of a fire which destroyed their farmhouse at Te Arolia. On that occasion Mr. Brydon lost many trophies which he had won as a Rugby player and oarsman. What remained and also others which he had won since were destroyed. A fairly large sum in banknotes, enclosed in a rubber band, was burnt. The building was insured for £3270, the stock for £4JO, and Mr. and Mrs. Brydon's furniture and personal effects for £500, all with the United Insurance Company. There was a cover of £125 on the electric motor and lemonade plant with the South British Company, while the cash register was insured for £40 with the New Zealand Insurance Company. _ A visit to Kamo yesterday showed a scene of desolation. Even the bitumen footpath which flanks the hotel on two bides had been burnt, while the top of a 50ft windmill standing in the yard had also been touched. Gangs were working on ' the damaged telegraphic and electrical lines. All that remained of what had long been a landmark were two tall chimney stacks, and at the foot of one of these a stove, with the pots and pans used in the preparation of the last meal prepared in the Kamo Hotel.