HOTEL BURNED.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 18

HOTEL BURNED.

FIRE AT GREYMOUTH. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. (SFSCIAI. TO TH» VBSSS.) GBEYMOUTH, May 1. The Boyal Hotel, a two-storeyed, wooden building, situated in Mawhcra quay, Greymouth, containing thirtyfive rooms, owned by Mr J. A. Lutz, of Wellington, and occupied by Fred Williams, licensee, waa totally destroyed by fire at 3.40 a.m. to-day, along with the adjoining shop, owned by Mr W. J. Mdlroy, of Christchurch, and occupied by 8. Darrell, a second-hand dealer. A cottage at the rear of the hotel, used for residential purposes, was also destroyed. An intervening brick wall saved the promises of George Webster, umbrellamaker. Though the flames did damago to the Bailway Hotel adjoining Webster's shop, it was saved with the exception of the kitchen portion at the rear. When discovered, the fire had a good hold on the Boyal Hotel, and the boarders and staff suffered heavy loss, having only time to escape in what clothing they could secure quickly. The failure of the electric light added to the confusion. Three of the inmates jumped from the windows, and sustained injuneb necessitating their removal to the Grey Hospital. They were Mr and Mrs J. Howat, of Kanieri, whoso wedding tooK place yesterday at Hokitika, and Mr A. G. Smith. They are Buffering from shock and burns. Their condition was reported to be satisfactory this evening. One of the boarders named Drury, a railway guard, had his hands burnt. He returned from Christchurch yesterday after being on holiday. The Fire Brigade was on the scene within five minutes of receiving the call, and got their Dennis engine quickly to work, and geting a good pressure, ran out six leads of hose. From the outset it was seen there was no hope of saving any material portion of the the hotel, and part of the brigade concentrated on saving the adjoining buildings. The main buildings of Messrs Webster, A. Ogilvie (mercer), the Bailway Hotel, and A. H. Milner (jeweller) were saved, as also were the buildings located in Marion street, between the rear of the Boyal Hotel and Mackay street. The Boyal Hotel was insured for £SOOO, as follows:—Alliance £2OOO, Queensland £ISOO, Phoenix £IOOO, National £250, Standard £250. The stock, furniture, and effects were insured in the Standard Office for £I4OO.

Mr Darrell was uninsured, and estimated his stock as worth £950, about £l5O worth being salved. Damage to Wobster's shop, which is insured with the New Zealand Company for £750, Is estimated at £IOO.

A detached workshop at the rear of the main building was destroyed with the plant it contained, and this loss is estimated by Mr Webster at £6O, there being no insurance Mr Wobster's stock is insured for £IOO in the Guardian Office, and his furniture and effects for £2OO in the same office. They were slightly damaged. The furniture and effects of his daughter, Mrs McFarlane, who resides with him, are Insured for £SO in the Guardian Office, and were slightly damaged. The Bailway Hotel is insured in the North British and Mercantile for £2OOO, the Northern Office for £4OO, but th«f, damage was confined to the kitchen only, which was burnt. Whilst working at the fire, Fireman H. Blocsage received severe cuts to one of his hands from broken glass, and Fireman J. Walton had a narrow escape when falling timber struck and dented his helmet. The Boyal Hotel was to have changed hands to-day, the licensee, Mr Fred Williams, having disposed of his interest to Mr A. Lees.