THE HIMATANGI FIRE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9351, 21 January 1909, Page 8

THE HIMATANGI FIRE.

Afc the adjourned enquiry into the above at Foxfcou on Monday held by Mr A. Distri'ct - Coroner, Sub-Inspector j,0 ’Donovan conducted the case on bahaifjjof the police. Mr R. Moore appeared for the Insurance Go., and Mr Cooper for Mr Jones. Henry Hartley, storekeeper, Orqna Downs, who lives about 20 ph 8 * 1 ? 8 from the; scene of the fire, said hxs attention was first called to the fire 'by one of his employees. Mr Meads and he ran down to the house, but found that the fire had too big a hold for them to make an entry. Nothing could be done,, ;as the fire was too fierce to allow them to approach the only tank. The fire appeared to have started in the back of the ; building. The back walls had fallen when he arrived. Last saw Jones l at about a quarter to three, on his .way to the /station. Did not see him n©xt day* Tiien told 4 liiiD about the iftre. He seemed to be cut up about it when he was told, and did not appear to know of the fire until informed. Jones occupied ’ about 500 acres, fairly stocked with sheep and cattle. ■ William Meads, farmer, Oroua Downs, gave similar evidence, \ * Robert Spenoei, of Palmerston North, representing South British Insurance Go., said his office .held a policy on the building and outbuildings. In July last Jones wanted to increase the insurance on the bouse to £l5O. Gave him a temporary cover for £l5O until witness i inspected the building. Went down two or three, weeks later and inspected the house and refused phe £l5O asked for. Jones did not say anything about insuring the xnrmture The former policy was in the name of Mr McLennan the mortgagee, the second was in Mr Jones’ own name. Jones said that McLennan had no interest in the property. Witness had had a letter from his bead office stating that Jones had agreed to accept £IOO in full setleraent hut afterwards refused it. Jones came to see witness about the i matter, but he referred Jhim to the i head office. -" A W. Jones said he came to Oroua Downs ]in February, 1908. Previous to that date he and his i family were living at Pabautanui, la a 9-roomed house in which they lived for about seven years. Most of the rooms were furnished. The fruniture was insured in the Commercial Union for about two years. On shifting to Oroua Downs he brought all the furniture with Jhim. His wife,and family did not, come on account of some disagreement. The Oroua Dawns house contained four rooms and a scullery. On arriving at the Oroua Downs had only unpacked what furniture was required, a large quantity had not been unpacked. On the day of the fire, Monday, December 21st, he went to Palmerston by the afternoon train and staved there that night. Did net hear about the fire until about ten o’clock next day, when Ihe was told by Mr Sexton, of Rongotea. He had no idea how the fire occurred unless it had caught from a fire he had it in the morning to burn rubbish. Had burned rubbish about 15 feet away from the ' bouse and the fire appeared to be out long before he left for Palmerston. He locked the house up before he left. No one else had been in the house • that day. The furniture was insured for £IOO. When the insurance was effected the agent did not inspect the furniture. No one had inspected it on behalf of the Insurance Go., since he had been at Oroua Downs. All the furniture that was ; insured was in the house when he left.

' To Mr Moore: Had brought all the furniture to Oroua Downs because he thought his wife would return. Did not have any loan on the furniture and was .not in financial difficulties at the time of the fire. To Sub-Inspector O’Donovan: A

bicycle, saw, harness and some valuable documents which were not ini' sared were also destroyed by the fire, Wililam Dick, farmer and builder, ’ of Himatangi, said that he had not examined the house but considered it was worth about £l5O. John Sydney Death, farm labourer . ofMoutoa, stated that he had helped Jones unload his furniture from the truck whan he arrived at Oroua Downs, The truck was almost fall. Some of the furniture was unpacaed and there were a number of boxes which were not unpacked. Had no idea what the boxes contained. Had seen the furniture since, when he was working with Mr Jones, Was staying in the house at that time. Nothing was shifted from the house while he was staying there. When he left, some months ago, the boxes were still packed. Constable Sweeney said that he went out to Orpua Downs on December 23rd to make enquiries. Inspected the scene of the fire. The house had been completely destroyed. Noticed the frameworks of two bedsteads in the debris also the remains of a bicycle. • Constable. Woods said he had ‘ inspected the scene of the fire. The house stood about 50 yards from the read. Saw where the rubbish fire had been; it was about 15 feet from > the back of the house. Saw the remains of two iron bedsteads and wire mattresses, child’s cot, remains 11 of springs of sofas, glass ware, also '.cooking utensils. Did not see any

remains of gun. The verdi ct returned by the Coro- * viler was that there was not sufficient Evidence to show how the fire originated by which the house and -furniture of Mr A". W. Jones was destroyed on Monday, December , .att»l/U9OB.