Ikamatua Hotel Damaged By Fire

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 10

Ikamatua Hotel Damaged By Fire

(New Zealand Press Association)

- GREYMOUTH, June 9.

Fire swept through the front portion of the modernised Dominion Hotel, Ikamatua, 17 miles south of Reefton, about 4.15 this morning.

In spite of strong efforts by the Ikamatua Auxiliary Fire Unit, the bar room, lounge and bar parlour were gutted and a small bathroom and lavatory next tb the bar was badly damaged by smoke and water.

Bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, bathrooms, lavatories and other rooms at the rear of the premises were all damaged by water and smoke to varying degrees. The building is owned by Mrs S. A. C. Matthews, who with her husband conducts the premises, which in recent times have been completely renovated and modernised Besides Mr and Mrs Matthews there were only two permanent lodgers, Messrs D. Bruere and L. Lukey, on the premises at the time of the fire.

Mr A. Pupich, officer-in-charge of the Ikamatua fire unit, said the blaze had a strong hold when the alarm was given. It was the first major outbreak to which the unit had been summoned for about 18 months.

Mr Pupich said the firemen emptied two Railways De-

partment 4000 gallon tanks and most of the third tank, pumping about 11,000 gallons of water on to the flames. As an emergency measure, Mr Pupich also called the Reefton Fire Brigade, but by the time the Reefton brigadesmen arrived the fire was under control. Mr Matthews was lying in bed in a state of semi-sleep when he observed flames outside. He investigated to see flames sweeping through the wall of the front wing of the premises. Mr Matthews aroused his wife and the two lodgers and they made a hasty retreat from' the intense heat. The cause of the fire has not yet been established. The stock and property are insured.

Mr Matthews said provision had been made for a temporary bar and there would be business as usual in the morning.