SKATING RINK BURNT DOWN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30279, 4 November 1963, Page 15

SKATING RINK BURNT DOWN

Early Morning Fire At Greymouth Fire which was noticed shortly after midnight on Saturday destroyed the Greymouth roller skirting rink at Blaketown. Members of Greymouth’s Volunteer Fire Brigade were holding their annual social in the Lyceum Hall when they received the call, and they attended the fire with two machines, still attired in their full ceremonial dress.

By the time they arrived at the fire, however, the building was beyond saving as the roof and the walls had already fallen to the ground. The building, which was. more Or less, a shell measured 100 ft by 40ft. The origin of the fire is not known. Sergeant W. Sawerg. of the Greymouth police, said he believed the building was last occupied at 9 30 on Thursday night, while the Chief Fire Officer (Mr J. W. Grant) said that a strange feature was that it was reported that the fire was seen from Cobden 10 minutes before the alarm was given. A member of the skating club said details of the insurance cover were not known, but the rink had been a valuable source of revenue and the loss in equipment was heavy. This included 30 or 40 pairs of skates, a refrigerator, sound equipment and Canadian hockey sticks which could not be replaced owing to import restrictions.