KAMO HOTEL BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16034, 28 September 1915, Page 6

KAMO HOTEL BURNED.

EARLY MORNING OUTBRe INMATES' NARKOW ESCAPE HEAVY LOSSES IXCTJBR [BY TELEGRAPH. -OWX COHBESPOSB^^ Monda-, The Katno Spnngs Hotel, which", ' Whangarei Hospital Board propo«d •>- purchase as a convalescent home ft* J? diers, was completely destroyed bv «T" early on Sunday morning. * '*• " The alarm was given about 5 a- L" -'1 Mr. Jasper Montgomery, the licensee' ,1 '> owner, who was awakened by his J? ; room being full of smoke. He roused V wife and two children, and six CT J. who were staying on the premie ?! . . these had barely time to escape. ' «n! * guests included Mr.. Mrs. and jjSharp, of Vancouver, Mr. Barter of fW " ' hunga, and his son, and Mr. A. Brook ' a commercial traveller. These were hie- "' ing upstairs, and as they could dm ' descend the staircase owing to the flan* "■'''-' they had to escape by means of the fr£ ; < escapes outside the building. Ti'v'H boarders left with practicallv nothing fen! ' their night attire, and they lost nearly - all their personal effects.

Mr. Montgomery, his wife -.) ''. daughter, and two girls belonging tolh*i~?J staff, slept on the ground floor, Md escaped without saving their effect fii Mr. Brookes was the only one of ft, occupants of the hotel who was able to "—I recover any belongings. Fortunately if,*- r-' J Montgomery secured the contents of the safe and the till in the bar before hark* :' to make good his escape. ;-

The prevailing wind caused fears or ft*'" --- safety of the sanatorium, situated close foflt the hotel, but after a fence had been consumed, a change in the wind occurred, and diverted the flames away from thU building. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery I&iM about £150 worth of jewellery. The out- " break is believed to have been due W'alSl defective chimney. - ; -;;'.: M The hotel and stock was insured in the -' United Office for £2400, but the total loss is estimated by Mr. Montgomery, at ' ■ double that amount. "., ;'i^-