DISASTROUS BLAZE AT RAURIMU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2994, 4 February 1926, Page 3

DISASTROUS BLAZE AT RAURIMU.

Taumarunui, February 3

An inquiry into the origin of the fire which devasted the major portion of Raurimu at about 3.30 o’clock.on the afternoon of December 14, Avas held before Mr. A. S. Laird, J.P., at Raurimu yesterday. Sergeant O’Brien represented the police, and Mr. T. 0. Kincaid represented Jediah Martin, owner of the Spiral Hotel, where the fire originated. Evidence of a lengthy nature Avas heard, at the conclusion of Avhich Mr. Laird found as folloAvs: —“The evidence in this case is purely of a circumstantial nature, and the conclusion hinges largely on the question of time. Certain points are no| adequately or satisfactorily explained, but it avou] d appear that Martin Avas singularly unfortunate if the fire Avas an accidental one. His evidence was corroborated in some respects by the other Avitncsses, but at the time immediately proceeding the fire his evidence Avas in conflict with that of four other Avitnesses, who agree I hat the fire in the Spiral Hotel Avas observed within a few minutes of Marlin leaving the building, yet Martin says there avus no sign of fire when he left. I can only conclude that flic circumstances are suspicious. The evidence, however, in my opinion, is not sufficient to warrant a charge being made, and I therefore return an open verdict that the Spiral Hotel was burned down under suspicious 'circumstances, and that all flic other buildings were destroyed as a resident the fire in the Spiral Hotel.”