KUMARA HALL BURNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 September 1944, Page 4

KUMARA HALL BURNED

EARLY MORNING FIRE A fire which first attracted the attention ol H. Webster, a baker boy employed • in R. N. May’s bakery, shortly before 2.45 this morning totally destroyed the Kumara Memorial Hall, in 'which were located the Borough offices and the Public Library. Although the building was insured for £5OO, it is probable that its replacement cost will be much greater. Certain of the Borough records were lost, though, fortunately, some of the books were away for audit, while the books were removed from the Library before it was destroyed, also crockery. However, two talkie machines owned by Westland Talkies, who screened a bi-weekly programme at the hall, were destroyed. The fire apparently originated in the Borough Office, and obtained a firm hold before the Volunteer Fire Brigade could get to work. The firemen, however, succeeded in saving adjacent buildings from destruction. These included a new shop owned by Mr G .Pamment only a' few yards distant, and the Fire Brigade Station, about half a chain away. The hall contained a good deal of inflammable material, including seating upstairs and down, and it was impossible to save the building, which was the largest in the district, and was also used as a dance hall.

The fire was fought with the assistance of the manual engine, which was run alongside the Masonic Hall, where helpers pumped water from the creek which runs under the Fire Station, this, no doubt, saving the latter building, which caught alight several times. Other helpers removed the furnishings from the Fire Brigade social room.

A fireproof safe Survived the ordeal, and when the flames had died down it was removed, about £3O being recovered unharmed. Memorial Hall was opened in 1 1921—the year the Otira Tunnel was epened—the first Chairman being Mr v/. J. Benyon, who was Mayor, and for 19 years Mr A. B. Spiers, had been Chairman. Its destruction leaves Kumara without a suitable public building and efforts will be made to ensure the building is replaced as speedily as possible.