FIRE AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 4017, 28 February 1903, Page 4

FIRE AT GERALDINE.

At 1.30 a.m. on Thursday a fire broke out in a large isolated shed at Geraldine, the property ot Mr P. Burke, of Belfleld, and; which was occupied by Mr G. Bethune, saddler,' and Mr P. D. Herdman, cabinet maker. The building was totally destroyed. Unfortunately, on,the day previous to the fire a water-pipe of the high pressure supply had burst close by, and the water had* to be shut oil higher up the road, so that no water was available until the main was turned on. Under the circumstances, howeveri the brigade did good work, but the fire had siich a strong hold that their efforts to stop it were futile. Mr Bethune lost two wax-sewing horse-cover machines, one of them having just come to hand from Home, and also a large stock of horse cover material which he had just got in for the winter. He was insured for £l5O in the South British Company, but his loss over and above that amount is about £IOO Mr Herdman is a very heavy loser as his stock was uninsured Among his property destroyed was an old piano, a newly finished coffin, bicycle, and his stock of tools and seasoned timber estimated at irom £BO to £IOO. The building which is believed to b'e uninsured, was at one time usbd as a sample room in connection with the Crown Hotel. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr Herdman was the last on the premises having been working, late the previvus night at a coffin, which was to have been delivered on Thursday.