HAVOC IN HOTEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 14

HAVOC IN HOTEL

LARGE TANK FALLS |CRASH THROUGH ROOF WRECKAGE IN KITCHEN [bt telegraph—OWN' correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, "Wednesday

Crashing through the roof of the Normanby Hotel from a tower 30ft. high, a full 600-gallon water tank created havoc in the kitchen of the hotel this afternoon. Nobody was in the room at the time and the only observer of the accident was a Maori.

In falling, the tank brought with it another tank of similar size. The first crashed through the roof of the kitchen, while the other tank fell clear of the building to become merely a mass of twisted corrugated iron. The timber supports of the tank chose a propitious moment for their collapse. Only a few minutes later the kitchen staff would have been on duty preparing the evening meal. At that time serious consequences »would havo inevitably followed.

As it was, the staff was aroused by the resounding crash. The clouds of dust brought to their minds but ono thought, that of fire. Hastily a small child standing in the hotel was rushed to safety and other parts of the hotel rapidly emptied. In falling, the tank ripped the electric wires from the walls. Power Board employees were able to arrange a few temporary lights,' but for the main part the hotel to-night had to depend on candles.