DISASTROUS FIRE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 180, 14 July 1928, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRE

BLACKBALL BUILDINGS DESTROYED. HOTEL. GYMNASIUM AND STORE. [Per Press Association.! Greymouth, July 14. Blackman’s Hotel, the Gymnasium Hall and the Co-operative Store at Blackball was totally destroyed by fire this morning. The outbreak was discovered about 12.30 o’clock but it is not known how the fire originated. Every effort was made by the fire brigade to subdue the outbreak but the wind fanned the flames, which spread to the Co-operative Store, whiqb was soon enveloped. Stenhouse’s store was also ignited and the Oddfellows’ Hall but by desperate efforts on the part of a bucket brigade the latter buildings were saved. Furniture and othen goods in the hotel were saved but the proprietor and the others who resided there lost their personal effects. The fire started in a storeroom at the back of the Co-operative Store. Blackman owns the hotel and J. Mettrick owns the furniture in fne hotel. The gymnasium and cooperative store insurances are unavailable.

As the fire was burning the electric current poles it was decided to cut off the current from the Blackball mine, which supplies the township, owing to the danger of falling wires.