WELLINGTON FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1919, 31 October 1906, Page 3

WELLINGTON FIRE.

THE ENQUIRY

EE MARKABLE DISCLOSURES,

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Wdliugton, last night. An enquiry into she cause and origin of tho recent fire on Lambtan Quay was opened to day by tho district coroner and a jury of six. Bernard Diedriob, in whose promises the fire brake out, said that one SoaQlan and himself trade under tbo style of the Wellington Auctioneering Company, Ar-

oustein, formerly a partner, was employed as mansgsr. When stock was taken on ! August 29 b tbe selling price of tho goods then in the shop was £847. The insurance was £6OO, Tae shop was electrically lighted. There were five or six rooms upstairs, and he thought there was same wicksrwork and ooueh springs thore. Otherwise these rooms were practically empty. He did not think candles were nssd on tbe premisee, except perhaps far purposes of g easing drawers to make them run easily. He kept no reeord of tbe stock sent down from his Cnba

street shop to Lambton Quay shop. The Cuba street factory was kopt for stooking tho Lambton Q lay shop, If tbe latter shop wore full it would easily ooutain £3OOO worth of furniture. He thought the lowest value of the stook earned since Soanian cable in wou : d bo about £700; the highest from £9OO to £IOOO. Tito takings averaged about £55 per week. Suaniau visited tbe Lambton Q lay shop daily. Ho kept the Recounts. His books were sales bock, slock booki, and ledger.

tf £l5O worth of Htock was sold Se mina iVouid let witness know, and he (witness) would Bend down stock to replenish the motises. Semlan had kept the books i eioeo September, 1905. I Witness was cross-examined at groat length as to his financial dealings and relations with other parties. John Dalymple, accountant, stated that in April, 1904, ho was called to the Wellington Auctioneering Company to adjust books in connection with the dissolution o' the partnership between Diedriek, Arousteiu, and Morris. Ha mads out a balance-sheet up to Muroh 31. It showed the firm to have made a loss of £7O. The value of the stock then was £lB6, not including consigned stock on tha premises, belonging to Diedriek. Wtasss thereafter kept the firm’s book until August, 1905. During this period the books did not show profit. There was no record kept of goods sent frrm Diedrioh’s shop in Cuba street. There was no bank account kept by the firm up to August, 1905. Witness kaew of no banking account kept to show transactions at the Dambton Quay shop. Noinvoioea wore sent with goods from the Cuba street shop. From memory ho would say the firm’s losses , shown at August 21, 1905, were £4OO odd.

The inquiry was than adjourned till next day.