INQUEST.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 136, 6 October 1871, Page 5

INQUEST.

An inquest took place at the Waihemo Hotel, on the 27th ultimo, before 11. W. Robinson, Esq., Coroner, to enquire into the causes which led to the destruction by fire of farm produce, the property of Mr J. B. L. Luks, on the 21st ultimo.

Numerous witnesses were examined upon oath, the whole of whose evidence went simply to establish the fact that, about one o\ lock on the morning of the 22nd ultimo, all the inmates of the hotel being in bed, some of them, were awoke by a great blaze of light which was soon discovered to proceed, from a large stack of oats in the yard, of Mr. Luks, which was on fire and. burning furiously, and that every effort.; was made to reduce the fire. In the course of his evidence, Mr.. Luks deposed: There had been no. working to my knowledge in the blacksmith's the afternoon and. evening of the 20th September, as the blacksmith was disabled fro:;: working by a sore hand. The stack was per" fectly dry. According to my opinion,, all chance of the fire having originated from spontaneous combustion is out of the question. It is my opinion that the fire could not have taken place unless the stack had been set on fire wilful ly. Ido not believe it wa* accidental ■ I value the stack before being burnt at five hundred pounds, sterling. It consisted of oats, the pro. duct of about forty acres It was not insured I have no insurance except, on my buildings. The quantity saved is from six to eight tons, but it is all more or less damaged. About twelve months ago a man named Templeton sued me for work done as a painter. He was nonsuited. I had no violent quarrel with him. Ido not believe he was about the neighborhood on the night of the fire.

Numerous cither witnow»ps having been examined, the following verdiJt was returned by the jury :—' r Tlmt no evidence of the origin of thu said lire doth appear to the mid jury " Much sympathy is fjt ;b, :ii , Lu] who is very generally and juatlv res,, pected. J J