FIERCE BLAZE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 11

FIERCE BLAZE.

FIRE AT MOTUEKA.

HOTEL DESTROYED. OCCUPANTS , HURRIED EXIT. EFFORTS TO SAVE SHOPS FAIX. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSOX, this day.

A disastrous fire occurred at Motueka in the early hours of this morning , , and it completely destroyed the Post Office Hotel, Freeman's Drapery ehop, Manoy's departmental store and the Post and Telegraph Office.

Clouds of smoke were first noticed pouring through the window of the lounge of the hotel. All occupants were quicklv nused and left the building in their night attire.

Meanwhile the flames spread rapidly through the large wooden building.

Fanned by a south-westerly wind t'ne flames cut across the street and ignited the electric power mains, ylimging mofet of the town in darkness.

The intense heat began to scorch the verandah of the shops of Mr. J. Fraser, a barber, and the.Motueka Fish Supply, but a bucket brigade managed to save these premises.

The brigade, realising that it was too late to save Freeman's etore ami the post office next door, endeavoured to save Manoy'e store opposite the hotel in Pah Street, but were unsuccessful, the building catching fire from the fiercely burning hotel, and it *vas toon a mass of flames.