THE KURIPUNI FIRE ENQUIRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5145, 2 October 1895, Page 2

THE KURIPUNI FIRE ENQUIRY.

Tho inquest ou the late tire at Jlr Harvey's cottage at Kuripuni, was hold yesterday, before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., District Corouor, andu I jury consisting of Messrs Waltor Smytbson (foreman), J. E. Hood, D. Wilton, Jas. Nicol, F. Holloway and 11. Peterson.

K. H. Waddingtondoposed that ho was agont in this district for the North British Insurance Company. The premises destroyed were insured in this office for £175 on tho dwelling house, and £25 on the adjoining sheds. Tho Company did not question tho value of tho building, but always desired an onquiry on a lire which occurred in an unoccupied building.

W. 13. Chennells slated that Jlr Harvey instructed hint to sell or lot tho property, and the koy was left at his house, the selling price was £■lso. Was in the house on .the Sunday previous to the fire, thero were no combustibles in tho house. Charles Royes, a carpenter, bad the key ou the Wednesday or Thursday previous to the fire. This was for the purpose of giving a price for mitting the house in proper repair. Koycs' instructions were from the owner, Jlr Harvey. On tho Thursday David Heggie got the koy to got a look at the property. The key was roturned by Heggio on Friday. The house was a well-built totara dwelling, be should say the original cost would be about £250, but it was an old building, and its full value, ub it stood, would be about £175. Jlr Harvey was a Itabbit Inspector in Hawke's Bay, and witness hud told him he did not think it would bo necessary to incur the oiponso of attending the enquiry.

C. K. Danioll, builder, gave evidence that at Mr Uarvoy's request he had inspected the building destroyed, and suggested repairs and improvements costing botwoen £3O and £4O. In witness' opinion, to replace the building as ho saw it, would cost £lB4, The building w»b sixteen or seventeen years old and was of course of less valuo than whon new.

W. Clemont Cargill gave oyidence that between five and six o'clock on the night of tho lire, ho had gone oyer to sco if there was any water in a trough which stood about thirty yards from Mr Harvoy'a house, as he was grazing a cow in Mr Harvoy'a paddock. Lived about 150 yards from Mr Harvoy's, and at eleven o'clock at night, was outsido his house, but saw nothing to attract attention, There was no firo at that hour, otherwise ho must hayo seen it,

Mary Troder gave ovidence that sho liyed near Mr Haryey's cottage, and was awakened about 11,30 p.m. on the night of tho fire, by tho noise of it burning. Looked out and saw the house in a blaze. William Morris, Foreman of tho Kuripuni Fire Brigade, stated that on the night of the 13th of September, he was lying awake at thirteen minutes to twelve o'clock, Saw a glare of fire, and while dressing heard tho fire-bell ring. He ordered tho engine not to proceed to the fire as it was too far away. He saddled his horse, which was handy, and when he got lo the scene of the fire found the house a body of flame, and and the roof had fallen in. He took steps to prevent the fire spreading to the otit-buildiVs, which were about 40 feet away from tho dwelling house. David Heggie stated that ho was in the house on Thursday, the day previous to the fire. He had taken a Mrs Stewart to see the house. Royes had the key, and opened the door and lockod the door after they left, saying ho would return the key to Mr Chennelia. Witness was only in tho kitchen. Royes, Mrs Stewart, and a man named Allon went through the house. They would be in the house about ten minutes.

Constable May gave ovidcnce that the following day he found the lock of the front door among the debris. He found no lock at the site of tho back door, and was informed by Royes that there was no lock to the back door, it fastened with a thumb latch and a nail over it.

This concluded the evidence, His Worship remarking that it ■ Svas unsatisfactory that Royes was not present to give evidence, ■" : '■ ■ 1 Tho jury returned it verdiot that there was no evidence to show how tbe'fire Occurred. ■•••"'••■