ANOTHER FIRE AT PALMERSTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 1

ANOTHER FIRE AT PALMERSTON

HOTEL BADLY DAMAGED OWNED BY BOROUGH COUNCIL Press Association PALMERSTON NORTH, To-day. A second and more disastrous fire occurred at 3.30 o’clock this morning, when the brigade was called to an outbreak in the Occidental Hotel, a large tow-storey structure standing on the corner of -the Square and Fitzherbert Street.

The flames had a big hold on a portion of the building on the corner and appeared to have broken out in the bar. This part was soon a roaring mass of flames and the clock tower, a feature of the building, was soon enveloped. Fortunately there was little wind and what was blowing was from the east and assisted to keep the flames from the main block. As a result this part mostly escaped serious damage, but a good portion of the building was totally destroyed. The building was owned by the borough council and leased to Dwan Bros. The licensee was Mr. Bradley, whose lease had expired and he had advertised a clearing sale of furniture at an early date. Those on the premises were the licensee, his wife, five employees and eight boarders, who had considerable difficulty in making their escape, so quickly did the flames spread. A Chinese cook was severely burned about the face and hands and was taken to the hospital. The wing of the building saved runs along the square over shops, and the brigade concentrated on saving these, but the contents were damaged by smoke and water.

The premises of Messrs. Chrystall, tobacconist, Just, nurseryman, Worrall, bootmaker; Byers, confectioner; and the stock of Mr. D. M. George, draper, also suffered from water. Insurances are not available yet.