Singular Fatality.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 22, 24 December 1884, Page 2

Singular Fatality.

The Napier Herald of Tuesday says. : — Some months ago Mr W. Neal, of BeS« clyffe, had his dairy and utensils destroyed by fire. There was no insurance on premises or plant. Yesterday after* noon Mr Neal called upon Mr Pulton, the agent for the Northern Insurance Company, and stated that he had renewed his dairy plant and wished to insure it. He paid the premium and obtained the receipt. Immediately afterwards Mr Neal inquired about the terms for endowment policies m the National Mutual Life Association, for which Mr Fulton is also agent, and ended by effecting a policy on the life of his little girl, to be paid when she reached the age of twenty-five. He then left the office. Within five minutes he returned; and, throwing down the receipts, said, a messenger had just come m to say that the house and dairy had been destroyed by fire, and that his little girl had perished m the flames. Half mad with grief Mr Neal got his horse and rode homewards — happily to find that he had misunderstood the message so far as related to his daughtar, all the family being quite safe. The house, however, was a mass of smouldering ashes.