FIRE IN MOTUEKA

Evening Star, Issue 23025, 2 August 1938, Page 8

FIRE IN MOTUEKA

HOTEL AND POST OFFICE DESTROYED TWO OTHER BUILDINGS GUTTED [Peb United Fbess Association.] NELSON, August 2. A disastrous fire occurred at Motueka early this morning, completely destroying the Post Office Hotel, Freeman’s drapery shop, Manoy’s departmental store, and the Post and Telegraph Office. Clouds of smoke were first noticed pouring through a window of the lounge of the hotel. All the occupants were quickly roused and left the building in their night attire. Meanwhile the flames spread rapidly through tho large wooden building. Fanned by a south-westerly wind, _the flames cut across the street and ignited the electric power mains, plunging most of the town in darkness. The intense heat began to scorch the verandah of the shops of J. Fraser, hairdresser, and the Motueka Fish Supply, hut a bucket brigade managed to save these premises. The brigade, realising that it was too late to save Freeman’s store and the post office next door, endeavoured to save Manoy’s store opposite the hotel in Pah street, but were unsuccessful, the building catching fire from the fiercely burning hotel and soon being a mass of flames.