HOTEL DESTROYED

Southland Times, Issue 20539, 16 July 1928, Page 11

HOTEL DESTROYED

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT BLACKBALL. (Per United Press Association.) Greymouth, July 14. Blackman’s Hotel, the gymnasium hall and the co-operative store at Blackball were totally destroyed by fire this morning. The outbreak was discovered about 12.30, but it is not known how the fire originated. It started in the hotel and quickly ignited the adjoining gymnasium. Every effort was made by the fire fighters to subdue the outbreak but wind fanned the flames and the fire spread to the co-operative store which was soon enveloped. Stenhouse’s store also became ignited, and Odd Fellows Hall, but by desperate efforts on the part of a bucket brigade the latter buildings were saved. Furniture and other goods in the hotel were saved, but the proprietor and others who resided there lost their personal effects. The fire started in the storeroom at the back of the co-operative store. The insurances are unavailable. As the fire was burning the electric current poles it was decided to cut off current from the Blackball mine which supplies the township owing to the danger of falling wires.