CORONER’S INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1929, Page 5

CORONER’S INQUEST

JUNTO CROWN BREWERY FIRE.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

The Coroner (Mr D. J. Evans) held an enquiry at the Courthouse at 10.30 a.m. into the outbreak of fire at tho Crown Brewery guikling, Upper Gibson Quay, oil the morning of April 11th at 2.4-3 a.m. Detective Murcli led the following evidence:—

William Jeffries gave evidence that he was an auctioneer. He was one df the directors of the new owners, Westland Breweries, of the Crown Brewery building. The building was about to lie demolished at the time of the fire on April 14th. It had been closed up for a period of about 9 or 10 months. Damage to about £4 or £5 was done by the fire. There was nothing in the lmilding to cause a fire; nothing df an inflammable nature. The fire was similar to other fires that have oc-

curred in empty buildings in recent years. There was no insurance, the policy having been allowed to lapse some months before. He was of opinion the fire started from the outside. The building was absolutely closed up. No one had authority to enter the building, except on obtaining the key from his office. He was in the building about a week before the fire, and all was then in proper order. To the Ooroner—His reference, at-the. Borough Council to the need of extrapolice • protection; in the. Town’.was a general one, and had no special refer-* ence to this particular building.,

Constable E. M. Best gave evidence' that on 13th ’ April he was .on duty fi-'un b p.m. till 5 a.m. on 14tli. About 2.15 a.in. on the 14th' he came on his bicycle from Fitzherbert street to Gibson Quay. Noticed a faint liglß up the Quay, flickering. Called in at the Telephone Exchange, rung up the watchman at the tower and asked him if he had noticed it. He said be had, and was trying to make out if it were a motor car or a fire. Witness said he would cycle up to see. Did so and found the Crown Brewery on fire, the south-eastern corner being alight, 'fried to get into the building, but ’t was all locked. Rushed round to Mr Phil Kortegast’s, got a bucket of water and threw it on the fire. The fire was burning'from the bottom, running up the boards. A • hole' at the bottom was burnt. Several buckets of water were thrown on the fire, and he quenched,.the flames as far as he could reach. Mr Kortega'st by this time had come out and he told him to. ring the (Ire brigade. Then cycled to the Fire it up towards file fire.- -Tho .bell/had not rung, 'so he roused up Ross’, members-of the Eire Brigade. Tlien got the reel out of the shed arid pushed it up towards, the fire. The bell had not then rung. When die had reached Sale Street he was joined by James Mark. Almost immediately before this, about half a minute, the bell had rung. Mark came from the river side of the tramline from the rear, and helped to push up the reel. It was about 160 yards from the reel station to where he was joined by Mark. There was no one stirring,up to that time, not seeing anyone. Whom Markjoined him, Mark said to witness: “Hullo, it’s you, is it?” Witness made no reference. After a (few yards witness said to Mark: “Where did you come from?” Mark said: “I’ve been up the hill (Mental Hospital, where Mark is employed) playing (fortyfives.” Then pushed the reel' to the fire, the Brigadesmen (some in a car and some running) arriving at the scene of the fire at the same time as witness. Mark was dressed, but had no collar or tie on. He had boots, laced up. Took particular notice of that. He had his uniform waistcoat, shirt, coat and trousers. He had a reason for taking notice of this- paiticular man and that was why he lemeuibered the particulars given. Mark could not have been more than a block away when the bell rang. Examined the scene olf the fire. There was nothing to show the cause of it, but the circumstances made it very suspicious. There was nothing to show that the fire had been caused accidentally. He was of the opinion it was deliberately caused. From the bottom of the weather-boards and the ground was 3or 4 inches. The last time prior to the fire, that' lie had seen Mark, was in the Post Office Hotel at 10 p.nv., about 4 hours liefore the fire. He was then in the yard with three others.

Louisa May Thompson gave evidence she resided with her parent on Gibson Quay. Remembered the morning of the fire at the Crown Brewery. She was sleeping on the verandah of their house. Something woke her and she . was sitting up in hed when the tire reel went past. Jumped out of bed and then the fire alarm rang in the kitchen. vShe answered it, and then wakened her brothers and cousin. It was not long after the reel went by that the alarm was given. While the boys dressed, she put on a coat and then went to their garage alongside, and as she was getting into the car the firebell rang. Went in the car and overtook, the reel n£ar the fire. A long time appeared fy elapse from the time the reel passed the house till the fire-bell rang. Alexander Fraser Anderson gave evidence .that he was an Attendant at the Mental Hospital. He remembered the night of April 13th. Had been lieie three days prior to the fire. Had not been in town prior to that night and knew nothing of the town and attendants only by sight. Came into the town about 7 p.m. with Jack Lynch. Was caught by the police in an hotel about 10 p.m. Went in with Jack Lynch. There were also Mark and Thomas there. Had not seen them before. Left the hotel just after

they were caught. The four went out together. Thomas left at the corner and the other three of us went up the main street and went into another hotel and stayed about half an hour. Then went to another hotel ; Mark and witness, Lynch having left at the second hotel. The third hotel was the Marquis of Lome Hotel. Stayed there five to ten minutes. Came out and separated from Mark, who went up Hnninclon Street on his bicycle, and witness went to Fitzherbert Street and - on to the Mental Hospital. Witness arrived there about 11.15 p.m, It would not be later than 1i1.30 p.m. Did not see Mark till several days later. Was not playing cards anywhere that night.

Re-examined later:—He was - not drunk, though lie had had a few drinks. He tf was certain it was not more than 11.30 when he got home. Mark told him to go down to the :first light, turn to the right and he' could not miss the Hospital. It was three hotels ho was iii after he was caught. He was quite certain he was homo about 11.30 p.m. James Mark gave evidence h e was a Mental Attendant at Sea View Mental Hospital and resided i» Livingstone Street. Remembered the fire at the Crown Brewery. On the previous night he was caught at the Post Office Hotel at 10 p.m.. From there went to the Club Hotel. Left Lynch there. Stayed half to three-quarters of an hour. The;! ryept/to. the.-Pioneer Hotel with Anderson'.' Stayed there half to three-quarters of an hour. Then went to -the ;Marquis of Lome, Arrived there after twelve. Stayed about half an hour.; and Anderson was not sure of his way band witness walked up as. far up Fitzherbert Street at Coyle’s. Stayed there talking for two or three minutes. Left :him, somewhere about 12,40 a.m: Goti.ohbhis bicycle. If Anderson; said, separjit^dl,. the'. Marquis 'of "Lome then lie was mistaken. Then .went,-on lps bicycle, straight up Hampddn Street home to Livingstone Street. He estimated lie arrived home about 2 o’clock. On the way borne passed three men at Sale Street standing on the footpath. When going up Hampden Street, saw the lights of a car coming aloiig Fitzherbert Street. It seemed to stop somewhere about the butter factory. It had powerful lights. He went straight home. When he got there he read the paper and, had. soine supper. He. took his collar and tie off and undid his hoots'. It took about half an hour to hake supper. Then went to tho front of the house. He.- then, heard- the fife bell,-' while on tsNe- verandah.-- 1 He put his-'-coat on, tied bis boots round-the top, went outside, got bis bike, bad Ho light on it, and went straight* down Hampden-' St. It was fairly dark. From Hampden Street, lie came down Sale St. to Gibsori Quay. He had seen the lights of the car previously, and that was where he had made for. The fire station was in Gibson Quay and that was where the fire , was. It wpuld take two-or’three minutes to cycle from his house to where he met Constable Best on Gibson Quay. He put.liis bike on the. railway line. >'He r hopped off his bicycle in front of Constable Best. Up .to this time he had not known where the fire was. He passed the remark to Constable Best as the latter had slated in his "evidence. He also told him that he had been playing forty-fives up the hill. This was a purely voluntary statement by witness to 'Best. He had, told. Best this' as it' was’the first thing that had come into his head, and it was untrue. He had no reason not to tell Constable Best why lie bad gone there to find out that lie had come from liis home. It was more than half a minute from the time the bell rang till lie joined Constable Best on the reel. Constable Best ought to be a good judge of the distance a man could cycle in a given time. He did not know that Constable Best had taken particular notice when witness joined him. When interviewed by Sergt. King on the Monday following the fire, lie made a statement which, he signed as -to bis (movements on the night of. tiie.'fii'e- H&told himthat lie went to, a. private house with Anclerson and played cards.' This was not correct. He said this because liq, had been in several pubs*and "did nbt want to say so. The Sergeant - had plained that he was not enquiring into breaches' of the Licensing Act, but into the cause of the fire. He did not then correct his statement as he only had the word of the Sergeant on the matter. He had stated to the Sergeant next morning, that lie had seen a. flicker of light towards tile river, when passing Peck’s corner, Davie Street.

(Left Sitting)