Arson Attempt At Ashburton

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31549, 11 December 1967, Page 1

Arson Attempt At Ashburton

Police are investigating a fire which was deliberately lit in the Hotel Devon, Ashburton, sometime before 4.30 a.m. on Sunday. The fire was put out by members of the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade before a great deal of damage was done.

The alarm was given by Mr B. Smith, a milkman. He aroused the occupants and helped firemen put out the fire.

Damage was confined to a cupboard under the stairs, pot plants, the carpet in the foyer, and some wallboard. The register, with bookings until

January, was badly burnt and largely undecipherable. Several small fires bad apparently been lit with the aid of some inflammable liquid, the coconut matting was charred in several places and doorways damaged. There were no guests in the hotel at the time but the relieving manager (Mr E. Kyne) his wife, their daughter, and her husband and young child were sleeping in the hotel, as well as a receptionist, Miss D. Totty. The Devon was built about 75 years ago and has accommodation for about 36 guests. It was originally Stoddarts Hotel and then it became the Grand Central. The Ashburton Licensing Trust bought it in 1951 and it opened soon afterwards as the Hotel Devon. It was the trust’s first accommodation hotel. It is valued at $lOO,OOO.