THE KAIKORAI FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3874, 24 July 1875, Page 2

THE KAIKORAI FIRE.

An inquiry was held yesterday, before Mr Hockon, coroner, at the Argyle Hotel, Kaikorai Valley, to inquire into the cause of the origin of the fire by which Mr Flexman’s fellmongery establishment was destroyed on Saturday night, the 3rd inst. Mr Macassey represented Mr Flexnun, and Mr Stout appeared on behalf of the police. The first witness called was Mr Flexman, who deposed be was a wool broker. The premises lately destroyed by fire belonged to him, and had been in existence for about ten or eleven years. At the time of the fire the stock was insured for LI,OOO, the building for L 3,000, and the machinery for LI.OOO. He estimated his stock at between L 7.000 and LB,OOO. There was a good deal of kip or sole leather, and about 700 or 800 hides on the premises. There was also a large quantity of harness leather. There was about Ll5O worth of wool, which was not insured. The majority of the sheds were built of wood, with iron and shingle roofs. Witness was not on the premises at the time of the fire, and was last on the premises at 2 p.m, on Saturday, 3rd inst,, and everything was then apparently all right. There were about twenty men employed on the place. He left everything in charge of his manager, who was a very careful man. He (the manager) generally left off on Saturday about four o’clock. The buildings could not be locked up, as most of them were open ones. Anyone could gain access to them. He always found tire engineer a very careful man. The engine did not work every day. Xhere’was no fire-engine on the premises. Witness was in town when the fire broke out, but he immediately went to the Kaikorai. When he arrived at the fire there were about forty or fifty people present. It was nearly all burned then. Some small things had been saved—2oo skins, some kip, and baskets. He had no idea how the fire originated. Everything about the engine and boiler were in good order. By Mr Stout: He could not swearwhatwas in the engine-house. There might have been barrels there. Coal was kept there. He saw the remains of some casks close to the engine after the fire. There were about 1,000 or 1,200 hides about the premises—some in pits, and others on the Hues. He asked the police, at the lime of the thy. to keep persons from the boiler, as ic might burst. Saw somebody throwing water on a cast-iron roller, and requested him to stop, as the cold water would break it. This was about two hours after the fire. Did not know a man named Costello. There were about 90 to ICO hides put in the pits in the course of a week. Ho did not see any of the workmen’s clothes ebyiug over the boiler. He had seen clothes there two or three days previous to the live. _ By Mr Macassey : He had not received any insurance-money as yet. Thomas Canadas, manager for Mr Flexman, deposed he had charge of the engine at the time of the fin?. Had been in Mr Flexmau’s employ six or seven years. Was in bed at the time of f he lire, about a mile and a-half away from the works. Left t'e premia's at four o’clock on Saturday afternoon, July 3; was the last to leave. Banked up the fire as usua l , and left it quite safe. He did not see any of the men’s clothes there. Anyone could get in after witness left. The engine and boiler were in good order. He could not account for the fire. The roof caught fire some time ago, but it was in the laytime, and was easily extinguished. He cn--idcred the works generally as being safe from •atching fire. When witness left on Saturday •m left a little woodaud coal for lighting the fire m the morning. The wood consisted ot an old !:;sk broken up. There was a cask with about two pannikins of whale oil about three feet Lorn the engine. At the time of the lire there were

about 3,000 or 4,000 hides of various kind?, three or four bales of wool, and a lot of tools. He never saw any portion of a cask about the engine sines the fire. Ho never had any fallow about the boiler. The fire used in the boiler was a coal one.

William Woodcock and Andrew Williamson, who slept on the premises at Kaikorai, deposed to discovering the fi;e, Flames were coming irom the engine-house, and before anything o rod be done the who’o establishment was ablaze.

i homas Carradus, ro called, said that he had -eerr the salvage ; it did not represent hah' the stuck iu the sired. James Cunningham, a settler, living opposite hj h:.vman’s fcllmongcry, was present at the lire in question. It was not the engine shed that caught fire first, but the next shed. Witness’s impr s-ion was that Mr Flexman’s business has not been so brisk lately. He would estimate the value of the building destroyed at about LBOO oc E9OO.

The jury, after ten minutes’ deliberation, gave it as their opinion that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated; and added as a rider, that factories in isolated places like the one in question should be provided with some means whereby a fire might be checked in the event of its breaking out. Some of the jury were of opinion that the insurance companies offered great inducements to the public. Mr Gillies, agent for the Norwich Union, said that he believed Mr Flexrnan had more stock on hand than was insured. Mr Eliott, agent for the New Zealand, made a similar remark, and said he had known Mr Flexmau for the hist seven years, and was of opinion that he always had a large stock on hand.