RUTLAND HOTEL AT WANGANUI BURNT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3527, 31 August 1880, Page 2

RUTLAND HOTEL AT WANGANUI BURNT.

[tklegpaphbd by our correspondent.] Wanganui, August 81.— A destructive fire took place this morning, when the Rutland Hotel was completely gutted. The fire originated in the kitchen, and was conducted upstairs by the lift used to communicate with the private suites of apartments. The alarm was first given by the billiard-marker, who slept in the room over the kitchen. He was woke up by a choking sensation, and found the room full of smoke, and fire in the loft. When once the fire broke through upstairs it spread rapidly. Six jets of water were promptly brought to bear, and although the saving of the hotel appeared hopeless, the fire was literally beaten out by the force of water upstairs. However, the hotel is completely gutted, those rooms not burned being blackened by smoke and heat. Great sympathy is felt for the proprietor, as the hotel had lately been enlarged and improved, making one of the best in the Colony. Some of the commercial travellers lost their baggage.

The insurances ou the Rutland Hotel are— £2so in Imperial on furniture ; and £750 hi Colonial on building. Other policies in South British were taken out, but cancelled because the proprietor considered the premium too high. Total loss outside insurances, £2,000.