GREYMOUTH BLAZE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22386, 19 July 1947, Page 6

GREYMOUTH BLAZE

SPECTACULAR FIRE MUNICIPAL BUILDING WHOLE BLOCK DESTROYED (P.A.) GREYMOUTH, July 18. Fire this morning destroyed the municipal buildings block, which incorporated the Town Hall. The blaze, which was discovered at about 6 a.m., had a good hold before the brigade arrived and spread from the central concert chamber to both 'wings, and within an hour only the shell of the building remained. Besides the Town Hall, the block contained the Carnegie Library, municipal offices, borough chambers, meeting and club rooms. • Most of the library books were removed before the fire caught the library wing, and also a large quantity of furniture and municipal documents were saved from the lower floor. Nothing was saved from the top floor, which contained the Old Boys cluo room with two billiard tables and the quarters of the caretaker, who was absent at the time.

Spread Rapidly

■ Although the walls of the building were of concrete, the fire spread so rapidly in the wooden interior that the outbreak was soon out of control. It was the most spectacular blaze in Greymouth for many years. _ The buildings covered half a block in the centre of the town and soon the whole aiea was a mass of flames.

The fire brigade faced a hopeless task from the outset.

The adjoining Trinity Church Hall also w r as damaged when the parapet from the municipal block crashed through the roof and partly demolished the wall. ~ , , _ , The town clock, which had been stored under the stage of the Town Hall since its removal from the Post Office tower on account of earthquake risk, was destroyed by the fire. The municipal buildings were erected In 1904 and were in need of renovation. The Greymouth Borough Council had had plans under consideration for partial rebuilding and extensions so as to provide the town with a more up-to-date civic centre. . , The insurances on the whole block and contents are £16,040. held in the State Fire Office. Included m this amount is £12,000 insurance on the building.