WAITOTARA NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 30 June 1924, Page 8

WAITOTARA NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent) A very serious outbreak of fire or. curred in our village on Thursday evening, resulting in the total destruc tiou of the Waitotara Hotel, of whicl Mr. jo C Mills was licensee. The build ing, which was very old, was rapidly consumed by the flames, and several of the occupants lost a good many ol their effects. Fortunately the wind was from the north-west. Had the wind been from the south-east, the Railway Hotel and the whole block would have been wiped out. There was a full muster of a “dark town” brigade who rendered valuable aid under adverse conditions with firq extinguishers, buckets, c tc. One of our local storekeepers was doing great work with a high-pressure . spray pump, but unfortunately his lead of hose would not reach above th© first storey. There was a ' shortage of ladders and other fire appliance* which hampered the fire fighters and prevented them getting to the seat of the fire but the way they worked was deserving of much credit. The only thing wanted was one superintendent. There were plenty of suggestions at to how to deal with it, but these were not efective. Mr. Joe Mills has open ed a temporary bar for the present. I extend sympathy to all those who lost by the fire. We are sorry to hoar Mr. Arthur Hurley was taken seriously ill with appendicitis and had to be operated on in Wanganui hospital on Friday morning. His friends wish him a speedy recovery. A meeting of the war memorial committee was held on Monday even ing last. The following resolution was passed: “That all subscribers b< asked to attend a meeting at the lattci end of July and decide what design of gate to be erected.” The funds in hand so far amount to about £lBO. Will some of the subscribers rise to the occasion and make it £200? Then we shall have those gates. We are indebted to the Waitotara County Council for supplying tuc pipes for the entrance.