MILL ROAD FIRE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1904, 13 October 1906, Page 2

MILL ROAD FIRE

AN INQUIRY

An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fire in Mill road on 29th Augmt was held at the Courthouse yes* torday before Mr W, A. Barton, 8.M., and the following jury :—Meeera 0. F. Lewis (foreman), W. G. Watsoo, Henry Bsavie, Charles Fogden, Graham Johnstone, and J, D. Trent. Detective Maddern represented the police; Mr J. W. Nolan with Mr J. Sheridan watched the interests of the Australian Alliance Assuranoe Company, while Mr Johnstone (the owner of the house) was represented by Mr H. J. F.nn John Godfrey, aconontant, stated that on the afternoon of 29th August he went to the scene of the fire of a house recently occupied by G A. Johnstone. He went on behalf of the Australian Alliance Assurance C.mpany. Witness bad a look around the placp, and bad a conversation with Mr Johnstone. Witness told. Mr Johnstone that hB would have to put in a claim showing the amount of goods in detail, which would require to be supported by a declaration and outside evidence. Mr Johnstone in* vited witness to come and see what had been saved. In a workroom was a closed trunk labelled “ Mrs Johnstone, paasenger to Auckland,” a quantity of engineer’s tools and some household linen. Mr Johnstone said nothing about having saved a case of beddiDg. He said he had just time to save his wife by putting her through a window Witness did not diß-' turb the debris of the fire. The reason Johnstone gave for his wife’s box being packed was that she intended to go to Auckland at an early date. Mr Johnstone said it was fortunate that it was washing day, and the clothes were on the line and were thus saved. Witness reported that he had seen a Mr Sheridan, local agent for the Australian Alliance Assurance Company. Johnstone told wit* ness that he would not have known he was insured if witness had not told him so. In reporting to Mr Sheridan witness stated that all he had seen were the remains of a bedstead, an iron box, a tin plate, and an enamelled pannikin. By Mr Finn: Mr Bobert Juhnston, J.P. was at the scene of the fire when witness arrived. Witness thought he could have heard the conversation between witness and Mr Johnstone. Mrs G. A. Johnstone deposed that the first intimation she had of the fire was being awakened by her husband. She could not say what hour it was. She got out by the back door. She took nothing with her. The fire started in the oeiling of the front bedroom. Her husband had nothing on but bis night oltrihes. Neither she nor her husband returned to the house after this. She was aware that a suit of her husband's clothes was saved. The suit, on the night of the 29th August, was hanging on a peg in the passage. When her husband awoke her she saw him take a suit from the foot of the bed. Some of the previous day’s washing was on the line and some rolled up on the kitchen table ready for ironiog. The latter were saved, In the shed there was a large tin box. This was in the kitchen on the night of the 29th. The box was paoked, as witness intended to go to Auckland, but miseed the steamer. The case marked A was put into the shed about five or six weeks before the fire. Detective Maddern and witness went to the soene of the fire on the 31st August. 'Witness told the detective that her husband bad the key of the box. Witness did not say there was nothing in .the shed but a box and a few old tools. Witness did not beg the detective not to go into the shed. The detective said if he could not get into the shed be would break the door open: He did break open the door. Witness did not tell the detective that the box was io the shed. Witness did not say that if she bad known the box was (hare she would not have claimed the insurance, ncr ask him to take off the value cf the con* tents of the box from the amount of insurance. She saw the detective take the portmanteau from the shed. It was hanging in the passage on tbe night of the fire, and was thrown out. The photographs had been in the box for montbß, as the key was lost. There was another old box in the shed containing bills aod rubbish. The things in tbe case were packed about five months ago. There were two bedsteads in the house. The iron bedstead was in the front bedroom. Witness occupied the parlor as a bedroom on tbe night of the fire. The wooden bedstead was brought from PalmerstOD. . Witness described the furniture and household possessions set out in the proof of loss. There was a violin in the house at the time of the fire tor which her husband had been offered about £SO, and four dresses which wore pgi cla'm'd for. The ossa wob in the she 4 about two months before the fire. By Mr Finn : Bhortly after removing to Mill road Mr Johnstone built tbe shed, and the box was then put there. By tbe Foreman : Witness and her has-b-nd did not leave the house tog-tber. The three olethes presses were part of the nine oases brought from Palmerston North, and the remaining oases contained the property mentioned in the proof of loss, Ba examined by Detective Maddern : The lid was off the ease when the detective saw it.

Georgo Alexander Johnson, who said he was a small farmer, sometimes a dealer, and sometimes a contractor, deposed; I was living in Mill road at the end of August. I had been living there about three months ; my house was burnt down on the 3rd August, about three or four iu tho morning. A week beforo moving from Kaiti I gave Mr Lissant Clayton notice that I was about to move. Exhibit A is one of cases moved from Kaiti to Mill road ; it was not to my knowledge unpacked at Mill road; it was in the shed about five or six weeks before the fire ; I did not unpack it, but after the fire I took the lid off to show Mr Godfrey the contents ; the portmanteau (exhibit B) was put into the shed the morning after the fire ; It was hanging on a peg in the passage at the time of the fire; I took it off the peg and threw it .out the back door, the smoke was tho first intimation I

received of fire, I was in bed at the time and the smoke awoke mo ; I got up and looked to see where the fire was; it was in the front bed-room in the ceiling ; it then had a good hold, I at once bundled my wife out the back door, and set to work to save what I could ; I saved an iron box containing some things belonging t.n m-,,

nntaining some things belonging to my wife, also a bundle of things taken off the clothes line; I cannot remember saving anything more ; I had at this time nothing on but my shirt; I threw my clothes out by the back door, also some of my wife’s clothes, what she had worn the day before, I wont to bed the morning of the 30th at about one o’clock ; I was at work on a patent; I did not tell Sergeant Williams that I had only been an hour in bed; I did not tell him that I did not go to bed until three that morning; I made a proposal to have my things inspred to Mr Lissant Clayton; I told Mr Godfrey that I did not know whether I had a claim on the Company or not, as I had no policy; after the lire I made a claim on the Company • the proof of loss and declaration have my signature and arc correct; that proof o* debt is correct up to amount given; most of the things in the case were purchased in Gisborne ; a clock was destroyed which "is not included in the list j none of tho contenlQ

in tho civo ivjro irchulid iu tbo li-t ; I oil n( t civil tho Company i» li■ t of tbo I'.vtictcn saved, ft‘i Mr Godfrey told mn it Wft ' out c, iti tv> ; L umilti n i upplomor ** , tury Hot out, Ini' ilnl not (inml it in ;I. lmil i! o 'io iu iu my possession for ‘l7 years; 1 mu not mvimi f nnytn- in Gisborne bid ■i on iin' llit; virlin ; n Mr Ttnuefnßlon, of Wo ling ion, I'til ohnrfjo of bo violin at ouo litno for tin on in ii.tbs ; ill's ivos about six y ms ; 1 ii"'! I'lt tin' violin 'n bo sold lit £IOO ; I first nut Mr Brassing too 10 yiiirs nfio in Auckland ; l got tbr violin from my father ; I brought about in pnclc ugjo from I’nlmcratou ; six I brought with uio mid iho remainder cninn n few beys mv mriia'. addressed tl.rjugh B.mk V; Mr Gink'll entod tic gu da irom lii.i i to Mill riiiul ; I helped io loud tin, o irt'imd went with ll ; it ivua oil tnkon in ( no load ; f touk T2 cha'ra, throe set up mid ihn remainder in a ease ; I hod two «aihstiinds ; I bad nine oil pointings (lucked i" n ciso ; I valued the oil paint-

mgs nt £ls fn ; I look thn oil p intings (mm Mr lirasaingtou, of Wellington ; ho

owed mo £SO oash lont ; T run not nwaro that anybody saw lho oil painting'! in Giaborno ; I had four other picturos ; I had two bedstead?, ono iron, iho ctbor wood ; on the wooden bod tLor.i was a hair mat»

10*0 and kapok matlrrsa. ai d on llio iron bod a wire mutlross and a knpok in litoss ; 1 purchnsid the hair maitr.oss in Willing ton ; thorn vvrro two pairs of blarkois on to h bed ; I bad two cheat cf drswo a in tile heuao ; I mado iheao myself b (mo I cauic to Gieboino ; they were in eus a and in iha liotiso du i;g tbo fi-o ; btforo I cavno to Gisbomo I sold Lho stock on my farm, also acme odds and rnda of fumilure ; Mr JElornhlow was the auctioneer ; I had a oheflonier which was oiso tiltou to

Mill road in a eve ; I had a hoik eaao w hich was puck; cl in the eaao with booltß ; I mn not awa-o there woo no

tracts of burnt books after tbo tiro ; I aaiv ashes of burr t bocks ; I turned iho ashaa over looking for a gold gU'i'J. I purchased tboc.irpet squaroa I hidintbohousoalo.it two years ago in liio D. 1.0 I bad two oprssum rngi in fin hi use, pinchssod in Pa'mi-relon North fr in two Australians for £7 nacb, I had two tahl a taken from Kaiti by Cork'll; ono was rovo od with so itu, the auir.lkr table boing oovorod. I had rnoro than threo tablo olo’.hs. I nm claiming fjr n kauri model ship which waa in a case whoa brought Io tbo house ; it was screwed to tho wall, A man ofswarsman male it fur me ;it was va'ued at £l2 I lost thr-o’suita cf clothes, mid two suits wen savob I lost a real lonthor case in lh ■ fii, I had two miirora in iho boos which wero de*-tro.' s I—one 1 —one in oaeh if tho front ro.ni'. I lonmnbor molting Mr Slur dm on tbo 151 ft AngU-'t. Con-tiblo O ll ra allied mo what was saved ; I told bim to go up io tbo bouse i.nd see. I did rot ray to anyone that I did rot intend to o aim upon ihi oompnuy, but did siy if ;hey loft mo a'ono possibly I would not have o dm-d, as I ivai ignorant rf my Io i i i). 1 was not drunk that morning I d d not pay on tho I<< SepUmbir that I would s n I in a fresh cl dm :uid allow £3O fj • tho g,aids saved. I never said in Mr McKee’s shop, when apohking of Cup ain Tucker's houso (oeeupi d by Mr McKei), tho' my h). a > would soon bo burnt down I uo'• er to'd i nyona my bouas had a dei diva ohiomey and win 11 toon bo burot ,'owo.

By Mr Nolan : I chub to Gisbomalaat Fubrua r y ; tho faroiturc cimo with me. I went to livo at Kaiti a few days after aniving. I had lived in Palmerdoo about a year. My furniture was insured in IVmei , rto‘''. I wan io Gisbcree about throo monibß bsforo I saw Mr Clayton about 'hs insurance. I bavo had insur anoes before ; I wa3 burnt out beforo, but only my furuituro was insured, and my house was net. Tha sizo of the house was 25 6 6 n by 25ft, I 10.-t L 97 in notes; this was in a leather earn under tho bed in tho room that was burnt. By Mr Fon : Whon Mr Godfrey came Mr Whiiray and Mr Johnston, J.P , were present on tbo afternoon cf tho 30th ; Mr Godfrey told mo Mr Sheridan had sent him up to soe me in refertres to tho fire, ai Mr Sheridan btli a risk over my paranal eff. c s and furniture ; I asked bim if to was 6uro ho held tho ink, as I had not got the policy; ho said ;h polioy had boon endorsed and everything was in trder ; he Diked mo if there was anything saved frem the fire; I said everything caved was in tho shed ; I told him to go over and look at them ; ho locked into tho shed. I mked him to lake a list of tho things saved ; ho paid, " That's all rigbq, I won’t trouble about that, you can claim to-morrow for tbo things that wero lost,” I mado a claim cost day, and it haa not yet lcm pa’d ; I had not received the ondoifod policy when I made my claim ; I Lard d my policy to Mr Clayton after 1 lrft Kaiti. and it was in his possession till after the fire ; at iho t'rnc cf iho fire I was not aware that tbo company had endorsed thn policy. I visited Mr Sheridan's cfiiio shout tho Ist September; Mr Sboridsn iffc.-id mo £35, and laid, " Tbljo my ad \'gj, us Srrgea’.t Williams would bavo arn stud you this morning but for inr, 1 ' I tick no not'oe of this, or to 6,k0 the aim unt offered ; when I cuno to Gisborne 1 had £SO in octet; I nekod Mr Clayton tw'oi to go over and inspect the property when I applied fnr a s iranoo ; he said bo would, but bo did not oemo. A‘l Iho ar'iolis I hern cla’ined for wore destroyed by firs.

By the Foreman: The fire started in the room where tho bug containing the money was iu, under tho tod, and in front of wtroh wbh n case ; tho money was not in tho room where ho was sloeping. John Oorkill, carter, gave evidence as to c rtirg a bulky load of furnituro for Johns e:o 10. Tho lat-lor told hint after tho firo ho had saved about £6 worth, and among his lessee were a model ho had boon work ing on for voire, and about JI9Q in monoyHe eaid ho d d not know if tho plaoa was imured, bi t had told Mr Olayton to carry the p.ulioy oa fr;m Ibo other plaoo. L ssant Clayton d'posec : G S- Johnstonß insured with me for£lso. I am a aub-Bgeot fo.’ tho Australian Al'ianco C. mpany. I did nt t inspect the furnituro and tfftetr.

By H's Wo ship : I; fa rarely the prao‘ oo to have a It ok atthe property ; it i? mire a moral matter ; :n thi-r oaeo the nferrnosF wto very good Mr Johnatono asked mo to come and fork at it ; I did not remt mbrr if ho askd me a sroond timo ; ef or the Gro Jobnronn told mo ho wa-t sorry I had not sron \ I havo a res collection that tbo polity wa3 ondorsed when Johnstone sbified t) Mill road. By Mr Nolan : JohnoloDe was not pressed for tho insurance | he oame in for it bimsrlf.

By Mr Finn : Tie policy wob in my poa?css ; oa at the iitp»-of thq firn. By tbo Foreman ; h do Know - - •—"■-■-...-•omi brd born informed that tbo policy had been endorsed. Afro;- tho evidence of tlr J, Sheridan, divtriet manager of rhe Alianco Company, bad beon taken, the enquiry was ad- ] urnod until 10,30 this nnrning.