HOTEL GUTTED

Southland Times, Issue 21949, 25 February 1933, Page 5

HOTEL GUTTED

FIRE AT DARGAVILLE. (Per United Press Association.) Dargaville, February 23. An outbreak of fire shortly before noon resulted in the total destruction of the Aratapu Hotel. The structure was an old landmark on the waterfront at Aratapu which formerly was a flourishing sawmilling township. The outbreak occurred in the rear portion of the building in the vicinity of an old chimney attached to the kitchen range. There was no person in the back of the house at the time and by the time that the licensee, Albert Allan, who was in the bar, became aware that anything was amiss the fire had secured a strong hold. Fanned by a strong westerly wind, the flames spread rapidly. With lack of any fire-fighting facilities, any attempt to save the building would have been hopeless. The fire crackled and roared through the old timbers and within a very brief time the whole of the building was completely enveloped in flames. With such speed did the fire spread that practically no effects could be saved. The county wharf which adjoins the hotel was in serious danger of demolition, but a strong band of workers was recruited and their efforts were concentrated upon saving this structure. The wharf shed became ignited at one stage, but the vigorous efforts of a bucket brigade enabled suppression of the flames. At one o’clock all that remained of the hotel was a mass of smoking debris. A stable at the rear of the building remains standing. The hotel was a two-storeyed building of 14 rooms and was owned by the estate of Mary Foley.