FIRE AT HOTEL

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 December 1934, Page 2

FIRE AT HOTEL

WESTPORT DAMAGE. — 5 [per press association.] WESTPORT, December 18. One of Westport’s leading commercial hotels, the Empire, in Palmerston Street, was, in part, destroyed by fire to-day. The building is an old twostorey one, part of it having been removed to the present site in ■when the old township was swept by flood. The hotel contained forty rooms, those in the centre of the building being destroyed, and the others more or loss affected by water and smoke. The insurances total £2OOO in the London and Lancashire office, on _ the building, and £lOOO on the fuiui . - and the building ni the British Tiad ers’ Cov., with £2OO on the personal effects of the licensee, J. H. L. Bany. BOROUGH COUNCILLOR INJURED. WESTPORT, December 18. A collision between a motor car and motor cycle and side-chair, and a bicycle, occurred during the rush to the Empire Hotel fire to-day. It happened in Lyndhurst Street, all of the vehicles involved being more or less damaged. William Caldwell. 62 years of ago. a member of the Borough Council am. the Hospital Board, received head, face and body injuries.

SPARKS FROM LOCOMOTIVES. AUCKLAND, December 18. Strong complaints that the Bailways Department had taken no action to lessen the incidence of grass fires, caused by sparks from locomotives, were expressed by members of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board at a meeting of the Board to-night, when the Brigade Superintendent sated that evidence definitely pointed to the conclusion that the recent serious outbreak at the Morningside Timber Company’s mill was the result of sparks from an engine igniting the grass near the railway embankment. The damage was estimated at between £16,000 and £17,000. When it was suggested that strong representations should be made to the Department, the Chairman (Mr J. JKingston) said the matter had been broached time after time, but nothing had been done to have it rectified. Tho position was serious, and some action would have to be taken. We may get some satisfaction if we keep hammering away at the Department, he remarked. The position might be somewhat alleviated 4f locomotives were equipped with spark-catchers and burned harder coal. Endorsement of the Chairman’s remarks was expressed by other members. The Superintendent reported that of 69 grass or rubbish fires attended by brigades from November 20 to December 12, altogether 43 had been caused by sparks from locomotives. The Board decided to request Mr Girling Butcher, Inspector of Fire Brigades, to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of Railways.

STABLES ABLAZE TORONTO, December 17. Twenty-one racehorses, and stables worth fifty thousand dollars, have been burnt here. The police blame incendiaries.