A FIRE ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1928, Page 3

A FIRE ENQUIRY

THE CORONER’S FINDING. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) W HANG A R El, Aug. 24. Arising out of the destruction by fire (involving a mail box) of Ivahoe Bridge store on A lay 20th last, an enquiry conducted by Magistrate Luxlord (as Coroner) at Kahoe 011 tho 22nd Inst, the postmaster at Kahoe testified that the mail contractor left there on May 19th with four bags for delivery at Kahoe Bridge containing among the matter £SO in notes, £9 9s lOd worth of stamps and £125 in cheques on the YVhangaron Dairy Coy. Other witnesses stated tliht after the fire there was not any sign among the debris of the iron rings attached to the bags, no remains of tho bags, mail or other indications of their destruction by fire. Several persons were called upon to give an account of their movements at the time of the fire, but there was nothing conclusive enough to warrant proceedings. The Coroner commented:—“l find that Kahoe Bridge store mail box was destroyed by fire early on the morn- 1 ing of May 20th. The fire was caused by tho deliberate act of some person or persons unknown, who first lpmoved the mail bags left by the carrier. The evidence is inconclusive to prove tho identity of the guilty persons. lam not at all satisfied with the evidence of Frank Saies, Simon Fleming and James Fleming.”