THE LAMBTON QUAY FIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8275, 31 October 1906, Page 5

THE LAMBTON QUAY FIRE.

CORONER'S ENQUIRY. . By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 30. An enquiry into the cause and origin of the recent fire on Lambtoo Quay was opened, to-day, by the District Coroner and a jury of six. Bernard Diedricb, in whose premises the fire broke out, said that one Scanlon and himself traded under the style of the Wellington Auctioneering Company. A. Aroustein, formerly a partner, was employed as manager. When stoofe was taken on Augu t 29th the selling price of goods then in the shop was £847. The insurancw was £6OO. The shop was electrically lit. Ihere were five or six rooms upstairs, and he thought there was some wickerwork and couch springy there. Otherwise these rooms were practically empty. He did not think caudles were used .on the premises, except perhaps for purposes of greasing drawers to make them run easy. He kept no record of the stock sent down from his Cuba Street shop to the Lambton Quay shop. The Cuba Street factory was kept for stocking the Lambton Quay shop. If the latter shop was full it would easily ooutain £3,000 worthjof furniture. He thought the lowest value of the stock oarried since Scanlon came in would be about £700: the highest from £9OO to £I,OOO. The takings averaged about £55 per week. Soanlo? Tisited the Lambton Quay shop daily. He kepi the aooounta. His books were sales book, stock book and ledger. If £l5O worth of stock was sold Scan lon would let witness know, and he (witness) would send down stock to replenish the Scanlon bad kept the books sinoe September, 1905. Witness was cross examined ut great length as to his| financial dealings and relations with other parties.

John Dalrymple, accountant, stated that in April, 1904, he was oallei in to the Wellington Auctioneering Company to adjust the books in connection with the dissolution of partnership between Deidrioh, Oiousteio BDd Morris. He made out a balance-sheet up to March 31st. It showed the firm to have' made a loss of £7O. The value of the stock then was £lB6, not including consigned stock on the premises belonging to Deidrioh. Witness thereafter kept thejfirm's books until August, 1905. During this period the boobs did not show a proQt. There was a reooid kept of the goods sent for Deidrlch's shop in Cuba Street. There was no bank account kept by the Arm up to August, 1005. VVituess knew of no bunking account kept to show the transactions at the Lambton Quay shop. No invoices were dent with tb« goods from the Cuba Street shop. Prom memory the Arm's losses shown at August 21st, 1905, were £4OO. The enquiry was adjburned until next day.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright