MILLERTON FIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 1

MILLERTON FIRE.

FURTHKR PA R TIC C L A B. S. [nr TF.r.EGKAen —turn press association.] MTLLERTOX. Oct. I. A disastrous fire occurred here early on Sunday morning when the premises of Messrs Horner and Bowley. storekeepers, and AH Bullcr Geddes, fruiterer and conHotioiier, wore totally destroyed. Air Geddes narrowly escaped being Turned to death, for he occupied a room at the hack cf the shop, and lin'd it.not been for the timely arrival of Mr W. Falla, who smashed open the shen, nud got Air Geddes out to safety, it is almost a certainty that “Buller’’ would have been suffocated in Isis sleep. Air Geddes states that when he got out of lied lie felt the whole floor giving under him.

Messrs Horner and Boa ley state that their loss will be vers heavy, for the shop and stock lost were estimated to have hem worth £3.809. part of which is covered hy insurance. They had iust got a large consignment of flour, eachr hi cm Saturday night, and had the lire occurred a couple of days,lnter when all their new goods had arrived, their loss would have been very severe. Fortunately for them their National Cash Register, containing all the _ accounts. was saved, and all the business* journals in the safe weie intact. Alt- Geddes estimates his loss on the shop and stock at approximately €IOOO He said that he lost £BO n. notes that he had in his coat pocket, over and above his other losses. His shop and stock is partly covered hy insurance, but l«a will he a heavy loser. __ The parties concerned have always stood to the workers in any industrial upheaval. and ..on tins occasion they were behind the miners as long as they could get goods. • . Tho origin' of the fire is a mystery.