FLAX FIRE CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1592, 29 July 1916, Page 2

FLAX FIRE CASE.

SHEIKS V. WALL, The Shannon llax ease was continued at the Supreme Court, lJalmerston North, on Thursday afternoon, before Mr Justice Edwards and a jury of twelve. Evidence for the defence was given by Gerald Fitzgerald, eivil engineer, of Wellington, who gave expert evidence to the effect that the lire originated on Seifert’s land and was blown by a strong easterly wind across Wall’s ground on to Speirs’ place. On resuming yesterday morning, evidence was given by Mr D. C. Bates, Government meteorologist, who produced the records of the local weather recorder. These showed that 2} inches of ram fell in the Shannon district during the last few days of February, and there was a slight fall between March Ist and 9th. Witness also gave evidence as to the direction of the winds at this particular time.

A lad, J. Larsen, who gave bright and intelligent answers to the questions put to him, deposed that on the 10th March he was in Wall’s green “screen,” and finding smoke coming from over Seifert’s side, ha climbed the boundary fence and went onto Seifert’s land. There he found that dense smoke was eomino' from the direction of Hassett’s drain, and that the tire had ignited close to Wall’s boundary. He went out of the smoke region to near the Tokomaru River, and there he could still see smoke coming from even further back on Seifert’s land. He then warned the underscrubbers in the bush of the fire. A little later he saw a tree burning in Wall’green “screen” from the middle to the top. This he concluded had been ignited from the pines from Seifert’s land. ■ W. Porteous, surveyor, was siv* mg evidence when the Court rosn.