POSTMASTER UNCONSCIOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 3

POSTMASTER UNCONSCIOUS

CULLAUSE WHILE WORKING. HAMILTON, Sept. 21. The total loss in the lire at Ngongotalia Post Office, near Rotorua, is not known, but it is believed to be about £2OO. Two pay-vouchers alone represented £lO9. Other losses included New Zealand and British money orders paid over the counter. The total amount may never he known, hut doubtless it will be increased by diseoverv as time goes on.

The postmaster, Mr F. J. llecrdegan, usually makes up two remittances to the chief post office at Hamilton every week, but the one lie was making up last Friday night, when the fire occurred was the only one ior seven days. OIL LAMP OVERTURNED.

A connected account ol the happenings at the post office is now available. .Mrs Davies, a resident of Xgongotah.a. was returned home soon after midnight with her son, when they noticed smoke coming from .the post office. Air Davies ran to the window and saw the postmaster’s table on fire. He entered tlie room to stop tlie blaze, and found tlie postmaster, Mr F. J. llecrdegan, lying on the floor. The oil lamp on tho table was overturned. Air and Airs Davies, after taking Air llecrdegan to safety, extinguished the hi'aze. Soon afterwards the postmaster became conscious again.

The affair was investigated by tlie chief postmaster of the district, Air R. IT. Boyd, and Detective J. H. Sweeney. Air llecrdegan told them that while he was at work on his accounts lie had lost consciousness and had little recollection of wli.at occurred. Mr Boyd said lie believed that Air Hcerdegan who was slightly injured in a motor accident six weeks ago, had fainted while at his work, and in falling had knocked over the table lamp and struck liis forehead on the table log. But for the timely arrival of Air and Airs Davies the post office must have been destroyed and Air llecrdegan burned to death. DO( UAIENTS BURNED.

Afr Boyd said a number of pay-slieet vouchers and other replaceable documents bad been burned. Some paper money, the exact value of which has not yet been ascertained, was also destroyed. The Alorse telegraphic instrument, which was oil the table, was put out of action 6y the fire, but this defect has since been remedied and the business of the office lias been carried on us usual. Afr Hcerdegan was still suffering sligbUy from shock. Air Boyd said lie was satisfied the occurrence was tho result of an accident. Detective Sweeney is still at Ngongotalia. The point is stressed that il a. kerosene lamp had not boon in use tlie accident could not have occurred. Although the Post and Telegraph Department has plenty of electric current available in the district, neither the post office nor the railway station is connected. notwithstanding repeated requests from the public, ft is hold that it is inconsistent for the .Department to burn American kerosene and then stamp letters “ Buy only New Zealand-made goods.”

FURTHER PARTICULARS. PECULIAR POSITION. ROTORUA, Sept. 23. Following a lire at Xgongotalni post office last week, when it was alleged that the postmaster was assaulted and money destroyed, it was reported to the police that the postmaster, Heerdegon, had disappeared. Hcordegcu’s car was found bogged in Taupo road and tlie owner was found alforwards in a state of collapse and was taken' to King George V Hospital. The police now are making further investigations.