CORONER’S ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1925, Page 4

CORONER’S ENQUIRY

An enquiry was lield at the Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, yesterday, in regard to the. circumstances of a file at Man Hau Hill on 30th November liast, whdn an unoccupied dwelling, owned hv Mr ’l.hos. Robinson >Ji., was destroyed by fire. The premises were insured for £IOO in the \ ictolia Insurance. Coy. Inspector Keeles conducted the case on behalf of the police. Mr .Murdoch, by leave, watched the proceedings on behalf of the ownei of the house destroyed by fire. Thomas Robinson. Jr., cordial manufacturer. stated lie resided in Sewell Street. Owned a house at Hau 11 an. 11, bail six rooms. The house was destroyed by tiro on 30th November. There were four rooms and two back rooms under a lean to. 'I he house was purchased about 5 years ago tor Cl7o from T. .Marks on terms. £3t> deposit and the balance hearing interest. Tim property was paid o(f about a rear ago. When purchasing the house it was' insured tor £l<K>. iu the Victoria (lithe, and the insurance was maintained. Iho house, was built of wood and iron, and was in good condition when purchased. It was laii value at £173. Property was of a higher value then than now. Resided in the house till the end of 1031. The house was empty for six months. Did not notify the Insurance Company. I. Mct.lniikin went into occupation on a small deposit, and paid £, lls quarterly. The purchase price to McQuilkin was to be £3OO plus 5 per cent. McQuilkiu was in the house till the middle of last September. He left on his own accord. The house was in good order when McQuilkiu took it. I went and looked at it- when AlcQuilkiit left. 1 was very disgusted when 1 saw it, the building was not locked nod it was not. clean. I considered the value had diminished a little—dropped from £2OO to £173. 1 made a declaration as to the value on Hie insurance claim, it was £IOO. Ihe house close by is not as good a house as mine was. In a conversation with Mr Dunn, a neighbour, f told him 1 was keeping the place open for -McQuillan to conic back, but McQuilkiu would have to pay cash to go in. McQuilkiu told me lie would like to get back and lie said lie would fry and raise a loan. On the night before the (ire I went for a. walk with my wife round the town. On a previous occasion my wife and f visited the property and took some flower plants and some iron from the cow shed. I discussed the condition of the house with a man named Williams. T did not state to Williams that a man should go through the house with n match, and. that that was all it was tit tor. I said the man who left it in the state it was. should, be soaked in kerosene, and a match put to him. Jt was not a derelict house. It was quite habitable. The cost of repairing the house would he about £11)0. 1 did not. weep when I heard of the lire. I have been through the war and am not softhearted. I was concerned about the fire. T was called in the early morning and told about the fire by the police, who said the place had gone up in smoke—the usual thing in Hokitika. I gave information as to insurance. I discussed the place with Marks, and he advised me to make McQuilkiu keep to his I cannot say how the lire occurred. McQuilkiu paid me £7O or £BO while in the house. To Mr Murdoch. Mr W. Wilson, agent for the Insurance Coy., is a careful agent'. From time to time he examines the securities, t paid the last premium in June. The house would not change much in value since then to the time of the fire. McQuilkiu could purchase the house lor £l3O cosh. Visited the house in the day Lime, never at night. Am not hard tip. nor in financial difficulties. Thomas .Marks said he bought ihe property originally at auction lor £lll.

about 13 or II years ago. Five years ago sold it again to Robinson for £173 on terms. Was in the house about 13 months ago. The. place was ooml'urla Me. •rhe house was satisfactory. Thought Robinson's valuation a fair one to anyone requiring it. To Mr Murdoch: Knew the value ol houses. It could not he built for £330. Tile house was insured originally by .Mr Hrockollmrsl for Cloo. .1. 1). McQuilkiu said he lived in the bouse for three years. I,eft it in September last. When I left it was fairly dilapidated, and needed repairs. I lie (jirii ol |be vci iiMcfith v\as gom . and tin lack premises required renewing. I improved the property while in occupancy. I was willing to give £llO or £1.30 for the property if T had the money. 1 saw Robinson twice about the purchase and asked him to leave it open till after I returned from South. I told the police the house was worth £33 for removal. The house was not in a disgraceful stale when I left it. To Mr Murdoch: I gave notice when I left through my daughter. A\ife. live children, and myself lived in the bolt*’* lor three years. T spoke to the clerk at the office and enquired about the renewal of the insurance. Il was known I was residing in it.

11. .1. Omni, fanner, residing at flatt Hail for t lie past twelve months, had liven in |lie house prior lo the fire. ! had seen it frequently prior to its destruction. If was not in tin* host rendition, f value it at £ls or £2O. I live in a. house nearhy, also six roams. It is in a ladder eondition. and I value il at £IOO. I spoke to Robinson ahooi the house and was

going to make an oll’er. I:ui lie said he was keeping il open lor McQu ilkili. Holiiiisou was at I la' house ahotit a for In il l l before the lire. Children played ahooi the Louse ui time's. They i-ame from Rnnicri. lie had sent them away from his own plane. Did not. see anyone ahotit previous to the lire. Found in the early mormon it had heeli destroyed. Me(,lui!kin while occupying the house looked after it to the host of his ability. After I’obinson's lire, the policy on my house was re: I need hv the Insurance Company from £2OO In' £IOO. To Air Murdoch: Valued the land about the house at £lO. The value of the same area round my house was £4O. Would take £IOO for my house.

(Jeorge Williams, carpenter, residin'; in Weld Street, said he was at the house about two months before the tire. The house was very dilapidated. Valued it at! £.59 to £OO. Was theie with Robinson after McQuilkiu left. Remarked to Robinson he had losl his tenant, ami lie replied Ihe place was in a very had state. Said lie (Robinson) felt he would like to go through from the front to the back with a match. Something like that was said. Heard Robinson deny he had said so. Was certain Robinson said .something say anything about matches. Did not hear him say anything about kerosene,, bill he might have said so. To Air Murdoch: Did not think Kobinsoii meant to lire the place by his remark. Took it as a passing remark. 'Would not contradict Robinson as to what was said actually. Could not restore the house for £ LOT 1 did not make any comment when Robinson referred to matches.

The signed statement of W. Wilson, representing the Insurance Coy., was put ill. This was to the effect that the policy was taken out by Marks in 1920, and transferred to Robinson in February. 1925. Did not know the place was vacated. Robinson did not send notice. 'lke fire claim is for £IOO. the amount of the insurance.

Constable Best gave evidence as to seeing the lire just before 0 a.in. front Revell Street. The night watchman on the Tower, said the lire was at Mail llau. Cycled out to the scene and found the place blazing from the back, the lire just entering the front rooms through the partition. There was no water available and nothing could be done to put tile tiro out. It was burning front the hack against the wind. Did not see anybody about, nor was thc-re any trace of any movements. This closed the evidence. Tho Coroner stated the verdict would lie that the house was destroyed by lire oil the 30th November, but there was no evidence to show how the are originated. fn giving his decision, the Coroner said it was quite right for the police to take, action in the matter, so that all the. circumstances should be revealed. There were too many mysterious tires of late and it would lie in tho public interests to examine all the circumstances. In the present instance, the values given bv Marks and McQuilkin indicated that- the property j

was not over insured. They were both familiar with the house, ami their estimate might bo accepted. Inspector Keel os said lie thought the. Insurance Companies should look closely to values, and especially in cases where empty houses were concerned. The tires of late were frequent and gave much concern, and the Insurance Companies could assist by closely investigating risks held. The Coroner concurred, and said from time to time inspectors went round, but he did not know how tkoroughly the inspection was done, ft was a matter for close business inspection. The Court then closed.