FIRE AT OKOROIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16022, 14 September 1915, Page 6

FIRE AT OKOROIRE.

HOTEL BURNED DOWN. GUESTS ESCAPE SAFELY | S INSURANCES TOTAL £3000. A destructive fire occurred at the Hi Springs Hotel. Okormre. in the eirJr hours of yesterday morning, resulting E the complete demolition of the haUi buildings and the loss of Tactically th. whole of the contents. There were }» t-ween 50 and 40 -nests in the building at the time, including several Auckland residents, all of whom escaped without *n«_ tainin? injury, and with the loss of onlr few odds and ends, though they v ' a compelled to make a hasty exit lirfitlr clad.

The hotel was a one-storey building con taining about twenty rooms. The propertv ' on which it stood is situated about tires miles from the Okoroire railway station at the junction of the Rotorua and Te iroka roads, and adjacent to the hot springs. The bedrooms were ail disposed alorj" one side and one end. and on the other side were the bar. dining and living rooms. About 20yds away n th» grounds is an up-to-date sanatorium burning, erected about seven years ago, a d containing from 25 to 50 rooms. At the rear of the hotel is a fine range of stables and a coach-house, .and a new store was recently erected on the main road frentaze below the hotel. There are Tery few houses in the vicinity. Auckland Residents in Building. OkoToire itself is a popular resort for tourists en account of the trout-fishing to be obtained in the stream which threads its way through the hotel property. It jj also noted for its golf-links, where, on account of the pumice country, golf can be played both in the winter and the summer. Another attraction to visitors is the hot springs.

Amongst the Auckland srnests in the hotel at the time of yesterday's outbreak were: Mr. A. M. Pickford, Mayor of Devonport, and Mrs. Pickford, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Clark, of Devonport, Mr. \f. A. Beddoe. Canadian Trade Commissioner Mr. W. Blomfield, Mayor of Takapnna,' Mr. Andrew Hanna. Mr. K. Gome, Mr. Lockie Gannon, Mr. J. K. Ledger. Other guests were : Dr. Walls, of Morrinsville, and Mr. A. Anderson, of Christchurch.

Rapid Spread of the Flames. The origin of the fire is not known. According to the narratives of the exguests, however, most of whom returned to Auckland yesterday afternoon, it appears to have started in or near the billiardroom, spreading rapidly to the bedrooms; The first to discover the fire was Mr. Beddoe, who was awakened by the smote in his room at 5.30 a.m. He promptly aroused the proprietor, Mr. W. Griffiths, and together they proceeded to awalea the remainder of the guests and hotel staff. The fire being on the opposite side of the building, all had ample time hi which to collect and save their baggage and most of their possessions. By the time everyone was safely outside the burning hotel, it was seen that there was no hope of saving the building. Saving the Sanatorium Block. L Efforts were thereupon concentrated upon saving the sanatorium block close by. the male guests rendering useful and willing assistance. In the absence of £ctfighting appliances, it was. necessary to utilise wet blankets. These were carried on to the roof of the sanatorium, nailed, and hung down over the eaves. The efforts of the volunteer fire-fighters, aided by the stillness of the morning air, were successful in confining the outbreak to the hotel. The latter being an old building, erected 20 years ago, and the timber being therefore well-seasoned, barbed rapidly. It was little better than a heap of smouldering ashes three-quarters of an hour after the first alarm.* In the meantime the lady guests.Sress hospitably cared for by Mr. and Mre. ! Callaghan at their residence in the vicinity. Later special brakes were obtained, and the guests were conveyed to the station, some of the Aucklanders catching the Rotorua express for the city. "-%

The Hot Springs Hotel property was formerly for many years owned by.MesnsL. D. Nathan and 00. In July la*", it was sold by that firm to Mr. Griffiths. who was at one time brewer to MessrsCampbell, Ehrenfried, and Co. The building was insured in the United Office for £2000, and the contents in the same office for £1000.