FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18461, 26 July 1923, Page 6

FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

HOTEL, CECIL DAMAGED. MIDNIGHT OUTBREAK. PART OFi; BUILDING GUTTED. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN ; • CORRESPONDENT. : ■ WELI/INGTON. Wednesday. ' Extensive . damage was done to the Hotel Cecil fay a fire which broke out at 12.30 o'clock this morning. Tho outbreak was discovered by Dr. C. E. Morice, who was motoring past ' and heard the sound of breaking glass. At the same time the staff of the Government Printing Office • opposite saw flames bursting through the windows of the third storey. The hotel staff was aroused and _ the alarm given throughout the building. All the inmates hurried out into the street,, many having dressed hurriedly. : The outbreak was located in the kitchen at the south end of the building, which is constructed of concrete and iron. The kitchen, the dining rooms and other rooms at that end were destroyed.. ; It was a calm night with little wind, and this favoured the work of the brigade* The fire presented a great spectacle at 1 o'clock, when the rooms collapsed. At 1.30 the brigade had the fire well under control and prevented it from spreading to the other parts of the hotel.