FIRE AT INVERCAIiGILL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12679, 26 October 1909, Page 3

FIRE AT INVERCAIiGILL.

Invercargill, Oct. 25. A fire occurred at the Friendly Societies' Dispensary at 5 o' clock. yesr terday morning, the shop beiag gutted and the stock seriously damaged. Mr, Robert Pollock, tlie manager, who slept upstairs, descended by. a rope and, gave tlie alarm. The bri-'. gade promptly arrived, , and by : means of a ladder rescued three women, one an invalid, who lived, upstairs. Two men escaped by. a back" door. A powerful stream? of water soon subdued the flames. .* The -insurances on the dispensary buildings were £750 in the Commercial Union office, and £250 in the New Zealand office ; and .on the stock £600 in the Commercial Union. The damage amounts to about £1200. A. Buxton, confectioner, who occupied adjoining premises, had £95 on his stock, which was damaged by water. Regarding tlie fire at the Friendly Societies' Dispensary, it has been dis-. covered that the safe was robbed of £30. The thief entered by a back window, and it is surmised set fire to the promises to destroy bis traces. The police are hunting for the suspected man.