Akaroa Hotel Fire

Press, Volume C, Issue 29712, 4 January 1962, Page 8

Akaroa Hotel Fire

Though tourist accommodation in the South Island has been sadly depleted by losses of tourist hotels by fire in the last 10 years, it has been some consolation that severe losses of pro perty have not been accompanied by losses of life. That is the tragic difference that singles out the fire that destroyed the Hotel Metropole, Akaroa, yesterday morning The sorrow of the relatives of the four persons who died will be widely shared There will be genera) sympathy also for those injured The serious loss of property and of a most useful publiamenity is, of course, regrettable As a thorough in-

vestigation of the circumstances will, no doubt, be made by the authorities, any detailed comment on the fire would be improper at this stage. However, it does seem a matter of good fortune that the loss of life was not heavier. The lucky return of a hotel servant who was able to give warning probably saved others from the fire that swept through the hotel quickly. It was fortunate also that there was not a strong wind. Otherwise the task of the Akaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade in preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings wouid have been far more difficult than it was