29 Known Dead
Ballantynes Building Destroyed
20 Missing; All Bodies Not Yet Recovered
Employees Trapped In Blaze

The Press, November 19, 1947. p. 7.

In one of the greatest fire tragedies in the history of New Zealand, 28 perished, one died from injuries, and 20 other persons including a baby, were officially reported missing. The disaster occurred when fire, in one hour, swept yesterday afternoon through the one acre block of the three storey drapery store of J. Ballantyne and Company, Ltd. Another four persons were reported as "doubtful," the possibility being held that they may not have heard the broadcast call to report in the evening.

The fullness of the tragedy will probably not be known for several days, but recovery operations were suspended at nightfall with the knowledge that other bodies were lying in the smouldering shell. The bodies recovered so far were taken from the ruins inside the main entrance and in a part of the Colombo street frontage. With a greater part of the debris yet to be searched, remains of bodies were visible in the ruins, hanging from rafters and lying on the top of a fire escape.

Of the staff of 300 employed by the firm, the exact number missing last night was not known, and there is a possibility that an unknown number of customers may also have been trapped in the flames.

Only the danger of the collapse of the Oamaru stone walls of the store caused the recovery work to be suspended, and it will not be resumed until the shell is made safe or demolished. The death roll must, therefore, be indefinite until a check is made on every person who was known to have been in the building or who was possibly in the building.