INQUEST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 201, 5 August 1884, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest as to the cause of the late fire at Makaraka, which destroyed the premises belonging to Mr. D. Murchie, was held yeshay afternoon at the Roseland Hotel, before J. Booth, Esq., Coroner. The following jurymen were called and sworn : —P. Richardson, A. Gregg, F. Forster, J. Dickson, F. Judge, T. Dalton, R. Harper, C. Nash, P. Malone, A. Kennedy, W. Madder, F. Silk. T. Greene, G. Brocklebank, W. C. Walsh. Mr. P. Richardson was chosen foreman.

Mr. Brassey appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Insurance companies, and Mr. Nolan for Mr. Murchie.

D. Murchie deposed—l was the proprietor of the store burned down on the morning of the Ist instant. I bought it about the 18th of last December, just before Christmas. I had no partner. I bought from J. & A. Davis, and gave £2,230 odd for the business, the stock-in-trade and goodwill. The premises were leasehold on a purchasing clause. The goodwill of the lease was included in the purchase money, £283. I have carried on the business since the purchase up to the time of the fire. Mr. Petchcll was negotiating with me for a share of the business, but nothing definitely was transacted. Bills have been given by him for the goodwill of his share to the amount of £628, but until these mature he does not enter the partnership. This took place in April last. If the bills were met he would have had a half share in the business. Since this negotiation Mr. Petchell has been employed in the store. He was employed on the first of this month, as was Mr. Cook, and a boy, named Sydney Burdett. I was in the store on the day of the 31st up till eleven o’clock in the evening. Mr. Petchell was with me, and so was Mr. Cook who remained after the store was closed. I think the boy had gone to bed. We were making out the accounts in a room at the back which is used for an office. This room opens with a door at the back, and a bedroom also opens off it, occupied by Mr. Cook. There had been a fire in the office during the afternoon and evening. We were burning light box wood. There was no lender, only a brick hearth. Mr. Petchell and I left the otlxce together at about 11 o’clock. We went out of the side door into a centre room, then through the kitchen and outside into the yard. We had a kerosene lamp burning in the office, which was standing in the centre of the table when we left. The table stood against the wall in front of the window. Mr. Cook came with us to the back door, and let us out. To go to his bedroom Cook would have to go through his office again. The boy’s room was outside the building. As far as I know Mr. Cook was the only person who remained in the building after I left. There was a safe in the office. All the books were not kept in it, but the most valuable were. A great many valuable papers were left outside of the safe as there was no room for them inside. The stock list was on the top of the safe, and the invoices were hung by clips on the wall. When I left the store I came across here, and remained about five minutes. I then wont to my home in Gisborne, and reached there about 11.30. I was alarmed by the firebell during the night. I got up and was dressing to go out, when Mr. Cook came and called me. That was shortly after the bell had rung the first time. Cook told me the store was on fire, and I told him to get my horse ready, then we mounted and rode to the store. When I got to it the place was completely down. The first thing I did was to try and save the safe, which I did. The books inside were considerably damaged, though they are still of use, the writing not being obliterated. Some bills and cheques in the cash box inside the safe on the top shelf were destroyed. The night before the fire I valued my stock at £2,488 4s. 7d., besides some private property such as a gun case, saddle, &c., which was not included in the stock. I am insured for £2,000 —£1,000 in the Victoria Company, £5OO in the British, and £5OO in the Royal. Two of these insurances were effected when I purchased from J. &A. Davis. There was then £l,OOO in the Victoria and £5OO in the South British. I have paid premiums on the whole of the insurances. I believe the building was insured for £550 in favor of the owner, Mr. L. D. Nathan. I consider myself a loser of about £5OO by the fire. Whm we left the office there were only small embers in the fire place—nothing to be afraid of. I put two pieces of light wood from off the brick-work into the centre. I know nothing more about the affair, and I have no idea whatever how it occurred.

By a Juror —I took over about £2,230 odd worth of stock when I purchased from J. A. Davis. I have supplemented that considerably.

By Mr. Brassey—lf these bills of Petchell’s were matured I would receive £628 for the goodwill. In assessing the goodwill, I reckoned it at £628 over and above the liabilities. That was when the bills were given. Some of the liabilities would have been liquidated by me previous to the bills for £628 havingmatured. If I’utchell did not pay the bills he would not be a partner. I did not arrange the amount of salary with Petchell for working for me. He has drawn money from me, which would be refunded when the bills were paid. I still hold the hills, but did not negotiate them. I have not kept them myself, they are in private hands, and are not held as security. Winn I insuiel in the Royal I said I was already insured for El.<K)() in the Victoria, a.-id that I would try and get another £5OO. The South British kept my insurance covered and charged me with the amount. I did not i now that until the 2nd of January. At the time I insured > in the Royal the policy in the South British should have lapsed. I did not tell Mr. Boylan, the agent of the Royal Insurance Company, that I was insured in the South British, because I did not know until a month afterwards that the latter coinjiany had kept my insurance covered. I told Mr. Smith, of the Victoria Company, that I was insured for another £5OO in the South British. When I paid to the South British again I did not sign a fresh application. Nathan & Co. have no interest in the stock that I know of. It

was arranged that the policies should reftlftifi in J. and A. Davib’fc faainb iwtil certain bills on the stock should be paid. t . G, Cook dopoßfid— I was storeman in the < niploy of Mr. D. Murchie, at Makaraka. I i have been so employed about seven months, j 1 was in the office till eleven o’clock on the night of the 81st. Mr. Murchie and Mr. Petchcll Were there also, and left about 11 o'clock. Vve were making out the monthly accounts. There was a lire in the office made up of light wood. We were burning n lamp. Mr. Petchell left a few minutes pls-' vious to Mr. Murchie. I went as far as the back door with Murchie. I locked the door after him, but did not leave the key in the lock. There are two keys to the back door, Murchie has the second key. When I let Murchie out 1 leiurr.bd to the oflicej and after blowing out the lamp, went to tiy bedroom, which opened off the office. I went there with a candle. I don’t remembef whether I had (he candle in my hand in the office or not. I think 1 had, but I cannot sweat to it. I think I had a lighted candle in my hand when I saw Murchie dut. About 4 o’clock the next morning I waß ferOttsed by a rushing sound. I raised my head and stiif a light under the office door. At first I thought Mr. Murchie had cutne back, and I got up and opened the office door, and found the office in flames, There was most fire where the safe was standing. The flames were all around the far wall up to the fire place. There was an empty todm next to the burning partition. I shut thd door and opened the window, threw out my bed-clothes, <fcc., and dressed myself. I then jumped out of the window and called the boy and came across the road shouting “ Fire;” I remained about twenty minutes, and then started for Gisborne. When I came back I did not assist Mr. Murchie to get the safe out; The stock was taken after Mr. Petchcll canid to the store, though I never heard what thd amount was. A fair amount of stock has come into the store since then. I don’t know of any stock that has been removed except by way of trade. When I got to Mr. Murchie's house he was dressed with the exception of his boots. I cannot state the value of the stock.

By Mr. Nolan—l cannot state as to when the stock was taken. I think it was in June. By Mr. Brassey—l was present when the safe was broken open. Mr. Murchie looked through some of the papers, and it was then carried away into an iron shed» Sydney Burdett gave evidence of afi unimportant nature. William Petchell deposed—l am a commission agent, and remember negotiating for a share in Mr. Murchio’s business. I was to give £6OO more or less for the share. I have not, as a matter of fact, become a partner. The book debts was the only thing that had to be settled. Bills were not given to Mr. Murchie, they were given in trust to Mr. Dufaur, and also a cheque as deposit, to be handed over when the matter was completed. I was his book-keeper at a salary, until matters were finally adjusted. We took stock up to the 30lh June, and we valued it at £2,400 or thereabouts. It was on that valuation that I agreed to enter into the partnership. I only objected to the book-debts. When I objected Mr. Muichie said, “Let the matter stand over until the bills are matured.” I said I had no objection to that. By Mr. Brassey—These bills were made out by Mr. Dufaur, payable to D. Murchie, or D. Murchie & Co. They were signed by me. This was in April. The £628 was for half of the stock and everything else, after taking over the liabilities. I had nothing to do with the liabilities—they were to be paid out of Mr. Murchie’s assets. I would not have to put any more into the concern, because if I did I should be paying twice over. From the time we made up the stock I was to become partner. I was to get £4 a week for keeping the books. When the bills matured the money would be charged to wages account, and I should not have to refund it, as I had done work for it. This concluded the evidence, and the jury immediately brought in an open verdict.