HIMITANGI FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1929, Page 5

HIMITANGI FIRE

INQUEST ON VICTIMS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) FOXTON, October 15. The inquest touching the death of eight victims of Himitangi fire on September 6th, formally opened and adjourned on September 11th, was resumed at the local courthouse this morning before Mr Fraser (Coroner). Detect ive-Sergt. Quirk conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police and G. C. Petersen appeared on behalf of the Wright family.

Dr Cyril A. King said lie examined the broken portions of cranium bones which had been subjected to intense beat, and had reconstructed the greater part of the vault of a human cranium, disclosing a hole in the base about half an inch in diameter. The skull was that of an adult male found near Wright’s bedroom, The edges of the hole were levelled. 'The inner aspect exceeded the outer hole. Stained yellow and minute pieces of lead were attached to the bone surface and in thp hollow of a top piece was an irregular piece of lead, also stained yellow. The lead was a grape like cluster, pressed together by heat and most likely was shot. The hole was probably caused by a gunshot wound. It would be impossible for the gunshot wound to be self-inflicted teas the position of the individual who received the shot must have been in a lying or stooping position. If the wound were inflicted by a gunshot, it must have been fired at blank range, and the shot was almost a solid mass of lead on entering the skull. Witness made a post mortem examination of the remains of tbe victims. Dealing with Wright’s children various calcimine bones were undoubtedly human and corresponding in size and development with those of young •bilclren, and the actual number of children accounted for by tbe three barred remnants. There was no actual evidence of violence.

The body in the living room was the best preserved, and was that of a tall man, and consisted of a fairly complete trunk, part of the head and features being charred beyond recognition. T u e bank part of the skull was missing. There were no teeth in either jaw bone. It was impossible to distinguish any bead injuries. From tbe description supplied him, the body was that of John Brown Westlake. He also described the remains of tbe ■biid found near the cot and those of Mrs Wright. Other remains were those of an adult male. Tbe remains discovered were of four children, and three adults.