INQUIRY ON FIRE IN POUND COTTAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3761, 16 March 1907, Page 2

INQUIRY ON FIRE IN POUND COTTAGE.

The inquiry touching the recent fire at the pound cottage was continued after. we went to press on Thursday afternoon. Mr ‘.C. Spiers was further examined in reference to the pound book. Witness in reply to the jury said the last account settled by the Council was made up by guesswork. In reply to Mr Moore witness said the only reason he could assign for the fire was rats. Had seen rats in his room. Did not try to save the book because witness could not stand the smoke’ Could not say whether the book was lying open on Monday morning: Did not know , f w%t pages were missing. Entries in the book had been omitted. Had ,no matches in the box where the fire started to his knowledge. If the missing leaves of the hook were returned witness would have something to gain by it. Frederick Chinnon gave evidence as to seeing the fire and asking Spiers where all the smoke was coming from. Asked Spiers to call assistance. Hadfield broke open the window of the room where the fire was apd, threw but a box. There and papers in there and the box was half burnt. Spiers did not seem excited when witness saw him and was standing with his face to the house. Spiers picked np the book and placed it the house.

Frederick Hadfield gave evidence “as to seeing the fire in a box.. Threw two buckets of water .over the box and then picked it up and threw it put of the window. The fire was confined to the box. . The book produced was on the top of the box. Could not the book was opened 6r closed. Saw the book again outside. Opened it, but did not notice any leaves torn out.

Constable Dickson gave evidence as to visiting the scene of the fire. Looked through the book after the fire but no leaves were torn out. The leaves must have been torn out after witness saw it.

The jury returned the following verdict: The jury are of opinion that the fire at the poundkeeper’s cottage had commenced in a box in a corner of the room occupied by Charles Spiers, but there is no evidence to show how such fire originated, also that Spiers' evidence as to the missing leaves in the' Borough pound-book' was very unsatisfactory.