Inquest

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 13, 16 July 1889, Page 2

Inquest

The inquest on the late fire at Manohes* ter House was resumed at 10 a.m. to-day before Mr G. M. Snelson, coroner. The depositions which had been already given were read out to the jury. Mr Cooke, of Prior and Cooke, appeared for Messrs Brown and Wrightson. Christopher Brown's examination was continued as follows : In September last at stocktaking his value was ; in arriving at values of stock is by taking stock at invoice price, putting a little less on any articles that have deteriorated ; no other cause for alteration would be shown ' on the stock sheets ; such deterioration is caused principally by changes of fashion \ some of his stock he purchased from Mr Loudon about 5 years ago, but had not £100 worth of it left ; there is in drapery always a certain amount of bad stock'accumulating; had not been in the habit of buying drapery stocks from, other shops; could not say what value was placed by the trade on drapery ; stocks ; tendered for Foote's, of New Plymouth, about five and a halt' years ago, but Lis tender wa? not accepted; was. still unable to say what amount he was insured for at Masterton ; was insured in three offices ; his place there was part of a block of buildings; on one side was the Bank of Australasia, and on the other a barber's shop ; the fire started in the next building: to witness', there being about 30 feet between ; did not himself save any of , nis own stock ; did not prevent anyone saving; his stock ; lost property to the full extent and more of his insurance, but was unable to specify the amount ; received £600 less than he was insured for; had no firs while in business on the west coast; could offer no further explanation as to the origin of late fire ; had not the items of I his last stock-taking, as he did not keep them, but had the totals ; had lately perused them ; Mr Badley assisted ia stock-taking and checked off the lists; had not taken stock since the fire ; a draper's stock was worth as a rule from 15s to 20s in the £', By Mr Gooke : Had already explained that why he received less than he was insured for was that the policies were nob properly endorsed. By Sergeant Manning : Had this infbr r mation from Mr Harcourt, who was interested on his behalf; insured his stock in. three offices, and these combined to pay him less than he was insured for. ' ■ John Pawson deposed: He was nightwatchman on duty nightly hi the streets' of Feilding; remembered Sunday morning 26th May last, about half past two ; was coming down Manchester street when he heard the fire-bell ringing ; sang out fire, and came down towards the bell; met Mr Eoake, who was running to towards Hastie's ; saw some fire burning: outside Brown's and Wrightson's in the street; saw Messrs Hewitt, Carthew, Morey, Thompson, and several others; went into Wrightson's and -saw fire burning between the stairs and the partition between Brown's and Wrightson's ; some persons were trying to put it out and witness assisted ; did not go into Brown's ; fancied he smelt a faint scent of kerosene';, what was burning in the street appeared something like wrapping; about half an hour previous to the fire had been in the vie-i lity of the building; was siting" on some cases under the verandah right opposite where the fire occurred ; heard a slight noise somewhere about the staircase ; tried to look in but could see nothing ; saw no one about ; stopped about 10 minutes longer and went on his duty, and did not return till the fire had started. By a juror : Had left the store about 10 minutes before he returned and found there was a fire there. By Mr Gooke : Did try the doors on hearing a noise ; fancied at the time that he smelt kerosene, but did not say so then to anyone. By a juror ; . Did say the morning after the fire that he heard a noise in the store. James Charles Morey deposed to being a draper in Feilding and a member of the Fire Brigade; remembered the Sunday morning otthe 26th May ; was in bed and was awoke by the firebell ; went out and found a fire at Wrightson's and Brown's stores; ten men were there when he arrived ; first went into Brown's and saw a fire burning just above the staircase ; the body of the fire wss between the stairs and the partition, and was running both up and down ; steps were taken by the Fire Brigade and others to put it out, and they succeeded;- noticed a smell very much like kerosine, and he believed it was ; examined the side of the building: Wrightson's, and there appeared like traces of kerosene on the wall ; placed his bands on the spots and smelt kerosene •, before he touched the boards had been handling kerosene at the fire, which might account for tbe smell on his hands; had not handled kerosene when he first smelt it on Brown's staircase; saw nothing on the stairs to account for the fire ; saw some bags burning in the street when he arrived'; Mr Brown was at the fire ; did nbt notice if the doors had been locked ; they had been forced open. By a juror : Had not handled any kerosene in any vessel holding it ; the kerosene on the wall appeared in splashes spread over 8 feet in width; believed it was freely talked about by the persons congregated after the fire that there had been some foreign substance or oil used for the purpose of the fire. By Mr Cooke : Saw nothing particular about the color of the flame ; Mr Brown's lamps in the store might have catfsed a smell of kerosene. James Beattie deposed : He was an accountant residing in Feilding, and resident 8 goat of the Standard Insurance Company, which had an interest in the fire by re-insurance; remembered there having been a fire, having heard of it on Sunday morning; on Monday morning: following inspected the premises ; went into Brown's, and saw traces of a fire on the partition ; it seemed to have originated behind the staircase.; noticed a great ■ smell of kerosene. [Left sitting.]