WAIROA INSURANCE CLAIM

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1931, Page 5

WAIROA INSURANCE CLAIM

HEARING CONTINUED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) GISBORNE, June 22. The insurance case was resumed. William Campbell, foreman of the fellmonger, deposed that after the ’quake on February 3rd. he could see no damage to the building , in which he worked. The supply of water wa3 | normal. Cross examined, he denied that the wool drier was damaged by the ’quake. In the' room where the driers were, there was no damage by fire. It was all done (by the earthquake. Stanley Morgan, a works employee, stated after the ’quake he examined the freezing chambers for leaks in the ammonia pipes, but found none. No damage had been done to the chambers inside or outside. On" the day of the fire witness was engaged in getting - trucks ready for loading. He was working alongside C store and saw. people sightseers passing repeatedly. He had seen people putting oars etc. under C store.

Cross examined—There , was a good deal of, meat in the store. Some was stocked to the ceiling and some half way, but if it had been damaged he would have seen it for the staphs wopld have been knocked over. If it had been damaged behind the heap 3 of carcases he could not have seen it. James Simon Jessop, Chairman of Directors of plaintiff Company since the Coy. commenced in 1917, stated he had been connected with the freezing industry in various ways for many years. Wairoa works were almost entirely owned Ay the farmers of the district. Witness was at the; works ten minutes after the ’quake. He saw the chimney stack down and power off. He proceeded to, the power sub-station and found the transformers dislocated and they looked pretty bad. Returning from the sub-station he was concerned as to' the safety of the meat, with power disconnected,, there .being 47,000 carcases. Externally the chambers appeared quite undamaged and;witness went on the roof.. C ,store did not worry, him as. there was no. meat in it, but it. appeared quite undamaged. Between B and C stores some boards •had sprung. Witness wired the Central Committee at Wellington asking that the Northumberland be sent as ■soon as possible .to' lift the meat. Later he was advised from' Waikaremoana that, there Was a reasonable chance of getting power on.