FIRE IN FORMER HOTEL BUILDING

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31973, 28 April 1969, Page 1

FIRE IN FORMER HOTEL BUILDING

Four units from the Central Station extinguished a fire in the former Savoy Hotel building at 37 Manchester Street, early on Saturday afternoon.

Damage to the building was estimated at $lO,OOO but no estimate could be obtained of the damage to the furnishings and plant of the Selwyn Manufacturing Company which occupies the portion of the building where the fire broke out. , The fire brigade received a 111 telephone call from a passer-by at 12.50 p.m. and: three units were sent to the scene. Five minutes later a 1 fourth unit was dispatched when it was realised that the fire had a good hold. Thick smoke which rose high in the air attracted hundreds of spectators, and policemen and City Council traffic officers controlled the crowd and traffic. The fire is believed to have; started in a rubbish con-! tainer in what was the kitchen in the former hotel oni the ground floor. The blaze ■ gutted the portion of the bottom floor occupied by the;

Selwyn Manufacturing Com ! ■pany. makers of blinds and I curtains, and caused consid-j i erable damage to the flooi above. Thousands of gallons of: j water were poured on the : flames. About 1.10 p.m. the. firemen had the outbreak un-' der control. The extension ladder was used to attack the flames through the roof land the first floor windows. The manufacturing department of the company, where at least seven sewing mach-, ines and blind rollers were) installed, was burnt out. The building is owned by! Mr P. Knight, of 4 Siddal! Place, and Mr A. Idiens. of! 15 Poynder Avenue. Mr I iKnight said last evening that repairs would be made as soon as possible. Portion of the first-storey floor would have to be replaced About four years ago twoj| persons died when a fire broke out in the kitchen of , | the hotel. I;