GRANDSTAND DESTROYED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 22

GRANDSTAND DESTROYED

Large Fire At Greymouth (New Zealand Press • Association) GREYMOUTH, December 1. The Greymouth Jockey Club’s old grandstand and tea rooms on the Omoto racecourse were destroyed when Are swept through the building a few minutes after 10 o’clock tonight. Flames rose to a height of 400 feet, and at one stage it appeared likely that the totalisator building would also burst into flame. It was badly scorched and several windows disintegrated, but the building otherwise escaped unscathed. The destruction of the grandstand will be no great loss for the club, as tenders had already been called for new tea rooms, and the stand section —which had a seating capacity for almost 400 —had been condemned, and was not used at the club’s meeting during the week-end. Although little Information concerning the origin of the fire could be ascertained tonight, it is believed ,that something was left smouldering in the tea rooms front Monday afternoon, when the two-day meeting concluded.