A lucky girl to be late.

The Star-Sun, Nov 20, 1947. p.3.

It sometimes pays to be unpunctual as Miss Mary Wootton of Christchurch ("Miss New Zealand") discovered on Tuesday afternoon. It was learned in Wellington that Miss Wootton had made an appointment for a fitting at Ballantynes Store about 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Had she been a little earlier instead of five minutes late, the consequences might have been serious. As it was, she arrived to find the store in flames.

Ballantynes had been making a three-piece ensemble, their gift to "Miss New Zealand."