Narrow Esoapo of the Turanganui Hotel from Fire.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 648, 12 March 1879, Page 2

Narrow Esoapo of the Turanganui Hotel from Fire.

THis*afterna6S, at nearly one o'clock, the Turanganui Hotel had an exceedingly narrow escape from being destroyed by fire. The fire was first observed by Mr. Lurwell, clerk of works for the Bank of New Zealand, and Mr. Adair's new stores. As this gentleman was eoming-from tlra*wliWf ,~"" he obseryed a fire under the floor of a detached building, which forms' ' portion of the hotel. He raised an.immejjUat^u. alarm, and called for water. This was speedily at hand, when Mr. Lurwell, creeping under the building, which is used for culinary and la,un;dr/ purposes, succeeded m dashing water from a b0.w.1., on to the" burning timber. In » ftw^ minutes the flames were subdued, but,^ had Mr. Lurwell not observed the outbreak m its early Btage, a few' minutes more would have seen the hotel m conflagration. It appears, upon exaitiiha- ' tion, that below a large boiler urfttTfor ' heating water, and under which a grite is placed, there ib only a thin iron plale. This, becoming heated, had ignited the flooring boards, and subsequently the joists. Hence th* outbreak' bo timely^ and so fortunately discovered.