HALL GUTTED BY FIRE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25598, 13 September 1948, Page 8

HALL GUTTED BY FIRE

OUTBREAK AT GREYMOUTH From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, September 12. The St. Columba Hall in Alexander street was gutted by fire, which broke out at 4.20 o’clock yesterday morning. The fire had a strong hold when it was discovered and though a fine save was made by the Grey mouth Volunteer Fire Brigade, assisted by members of the brigade from Cobden, the ceiling of the hall section was burned out. A section at the other end of the building, used by the Hibernian Society, was almost undamaged, as a movable partition was in place when the fire occurred. This section of the building can be renovated, but the remainder of the wooden building, which is 40 years old, appears to be beyond repair. The building had not been used or entered since the previous afternoon and the outbreak is a mystery. The fire began on the west side of the billiards room facing the Marist Brothers School courtyard and there was nothing in the building that could cause a fire. The possibility of ai*son is being investigated. The debris in the billiards room was carefully searched on Saturday morning by the police. The insurances on the building, which had a floor space of 3600 sq ft, divided into four rooms, are small, totalling £550, comprising £350 on the building and contents in the St. Columba Club and £2OO on the portion used by the Hibernian Society. Both are with the Southern Union office. The fire was a most spectacular one and at one stage sparks alighting on the Convent School caused boarders to prepare for evacuation, though this was unnecessary.