FLAX FIRE CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1579, 20 July 1916, Page 3

FLAX FIRE CASE.

SPEIRS V. WALL

[Continued from page 4.]

William Harvey, (lax-cutter, stated that on Friday, March 10th, he was splitting firewood along the Tokomaru Stream from Seifert’s main tramline to Slansoll’s Bridge. Ho saw no fire at all on that day. There was smoke between Hassett’s drain and the main tramline, but no sign of fire. Ho was requested to make an inspection by Seifert’s foreman, which he did. He did not see any fire I telween Hassell’s .drain and the blind creek. There was smoke coming from the green bush in Wall’s place, and the fire there appeared to 1)0 on the increase. There were fires burning on Wall’s property for at least a week before March 101 b.

John Hamilton, (lax-entter, living at Shannon, said that he was splitting posts on Friday, March 10th, with the previous witness. On the day be went home at 3.30 pan. He was splitting posts down as far as Hassett’s drain. The wind was south-east, and it got stronger as the afternoon progressed. He could see the country about Hassett’s drain and about Wall’s place. He was told to look for fires, and lie walked up Hassell’s drain to do so. He could not see any (ire on Wall’s side of the drain, but on the east side (hero was some smoke from a smouldering (ire. He was certain that there was no fire on Wall’s side of Hassell’s drain. The fire on the other side was a stump smouldering away. There were no sparks Hying about. He came down near the drain again on Monday, March 131 h, Ho remained (hero till nearly 8 o’clock at night. The lire he was fighting on that day was in Seifert’s, and it. came near Wall’s boundary. He noticed some fire between liassett’s di’ain and the bush creek because it had spread a good deal.

To Sir John Eindlay: Brora what he saw on the afternoon of March 10th it would be impossible for any lire to cross to Wall’s side over Hasselt’s drain. Ho did not know that a fire had crossed, Arthur Egan, (lax-cutter at Seifert’s, said that there was no (ire over Hassett’s drain on March 10th. There was a smouldering lire on the tram side, which had been going for a fortnight. The wind was blowing fairiv hard.

Frederick Buckman, (ram contractor, said that he followed the old tramway line down to Hassett’s drain on March 10th, and then went into the hush for eight or ten chains. There was a litllc lire on the cast of Hassett’s drain, hut none between (he drain and the blind creek. Ho noticed that several of the standing trees in the bush in Wail’s place were alight. William Barker, farm hand, employed by Mr Seifert, was the next to give evidence, corroborating the evidence of (ho previous witness. Janies McGloy, another llaxmill employee, stated that on the night of Friday, March 10th, the (ire was burning in places from two to four chains on Seifert’s side of Hassett’s drain. The wind was blowing towards Seifert’s llax paddock, which would have been in danger with a strong wind. There was then nothing burning beyond four chains from Hassetfs drain. There was tire in patches, along about four chains alongside Hassell’s drain for a width of half a. chain. Cross-examined by Sir John Findlay: The lire was so safe on Friday night that ho could have gone to sleep and no harm would have resulted; but he did not go to sleep. Sir John Findlay; Are yon wide awake now? Witness: What do you think I am ? Sir John Eindlay: I wouldn’t like to tell yon; it might not be compliment a ry. Had you anything to drink that night ? I had a drink of tea. Any tiling else? I didn’t have any beer of whisky, although 1 could have, done with a drink that night. At the conclusion of (his witness’ evidence, he was told “That is all; you may go,” and his response was, “Thank God!” \\ . Mepham gave similar evidence to that of J. McGloy regarding the lire on the Friday iiighi. He staled 1 hat when he loft on the Saturday morning the lire on belli sides of Hassett’s drain was absolutely out. William Manning, labourer, stated that in February last he bad a contract from Seifert’s, grubbing, etc. Ho had lengthy experience of swamp (ires. With eight or ten other men lie wont out to the lire on (he Saturday nighl between !) and 10 o’clock. His idea was that the lire must have come from Wall’s property; there were no other (ires for it to have come from. The wind was south-east at the time. On March Kith a lire started on Wall’s property, crossed over a blind creek by moans of a, dead log and started a lire on Seifert’s property. From February 25th to March 11th there were continuous fires on Wall’s property.

yesterday afternoon evidence for the plaintiff was given by Messrs Gordon, Gray, Hook, G. G. Watt, Hemrningsen and Griffiths on the linos similar to that given by previous witnesses.