TWO HOTELS DESTROYED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18557, 2 May 1930, Page 5

TWO HOTELS DESTROYED.

BIG FIRE AT GREYMOUTH. •y TalcgraDh—A«*oei»tlan. GREYMOUTH. May 1. About 3.30 this morning one of the worst fires in Greymouth for several years was discovered in the Royal Hotel, Upper Mawhera Quay. TU . had a strong hold upstairs, before being noticed. A number of boarders had little time to get out. Several women escaped in their night clothing, and a number of men had only time to grasp their trousers. One young woman jumped from an upper window, and sustained injuries. She was Mrs Howat, of Kanieri. wife of Mr C. Howat. Junr. Mrs Howat was taken to hospital. The fire spread through the hotel with rapidity. The building being a fairly old one. and its timbers being very dry, it was afire from end to end in a short space of time. The Fire Brigade had a difficult task when it arrived, and the wind was dead against them. This hotel was to have been taken over to-day by Mr Andrew Lees, from Mr Williams. Nothing was saved from the hotel, which was completely demolished. More buildings were attacked by fire as the wind was strong, and water could not be got directly in front of the advancing flames. Brick walls kept tne fire to the upper storeys at first, and Mr G. Webster had time to clear his stock of the umbrella shop. Mr S. Darrell’s second-hand shop adjoining was not cleared, but the flames leaped across to the roof of the Railway H tel, and that structure was doomed. Some furniture was got out. It was impossible to save the rear part of the Railway Hotel, while the cottages at the back of the hotel were destroyed. The fire threatened to cress over to shops fronting Mackay Street, including Scotts, but the Brigade checked it. About 4.40 a.m„ the Brigade had control. All of the buildings mentioned, as well as Milner’s jewellery shop, and F. Dumble's tobacconist shop were damaged by dense clouds of acrid smoke. The Royal Hotel was owned by Mr J. A. Lutz, Wellington, and with the contents was completely destroyed. The insurances on the building are £ISOO. ; £IOOO. £250 and £270. The contents 1 were also insured, but the amounts are j not available. Darrell's buildings were owned by Mr Mcllroy. The insurance is not available, and the stock was not insured. The loss is estimated at £BOO. Webster's building was insured for £l5O. The damage is partial. It is understood that the stock was not in- ; sured, but most was saved, j The Railway Hotel rear was dam- ! aged by water. The building was insured for £4OO. The following persons were admitted to hospital;—Mr and Mrs Howat. Mr A. G. Smith. Their injuries are not Fireman Blocksage received cuts on the hand. Fireman Walton had a narrow escape; falling timber dented his 1 helmet. 1 .iC water supply is leported to have been very good.