THE FIRE AT MR HESSEY'S

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5188, 22 November 1895, Page 2

THE FIRE AT MR HESSEY'S

CORONER'S INQUEST.

' An enquiry was held yesterday afternoon, at Masterton, before Mr jT. Hutchison, District Coroner, into the circumstances connected with the fire which lately occurred at Mr John Hessey's property on the Upper Plain. .^>, The following jury was empan- fff elled:—Messrs J. Hooper (foreman), Walter Perry, E. Krahagen, fl. Evernden, J. O'Meara and T. Braggins. John Hessey, junr., stated that he was a nephew to Mr J, Hessey and lived on his unclo's farm on the Upper Plain. There were twobarns i and a shed destroyed by fire. On the 14th November, about half-past [ eight o'clock a.m., lie was'fifty yards away in the btish when he saw the smoke issuing from the fire, and coming from the direction of the barn which was burning. The fire then had so much that hold there was no & stopping it. There were 100 bushels of grain and some tarpaulins in one and 6ome potatoes. In the other barn there were parts of a reaper and binder and some oats, chaff and odds and ends. In the closed shed there wore tlio remaining parts of the reaper and binder and some sacks. Ho last passed tho barn going to the bush about 8 o'clock. He observed no signs of fire then. All the buildings wcro closed, He (ft* was in the shed at a quarter past six ;9F. that morning milking. He closed tho barn when he cnmo out. He did not smoko. Had been in tho smaller of the two barns that morning. Ho was alone. Could not say in what part the fire occurred, but noticed it first in tho loose-boxes behind the shed. Tho other omploye who would have occasion to go near the barns was John Eamsey. Mr Hessoy was away from home. Eamsey had passed the buildings at 8 o'clock, and he came up with witness. Thero was somo looso straw in the loose-boi behind the shed. Eamsey was tho last person there, neither witnoss nor Eamsey had been in the loose-box since tho previous Sunday night. The loose-box was not kept locked. He w«b quite sure that neither himself nor Eamsey smoked, There was a horse and saddle in another loose-box.

To Constablo May: I did not see any strangers on the property the morning of the fire. To a jurymau: Looked after the horso in the loose-box himself. The Jfc Ore first occurred in the loose-box on4|j| tho opposite side to tho one on which the horse was kept. Did not drop any matches at any previous time. He did not use matches in the barns.

John Hainsoy gave evidence that he remembered tho 14th November, when a fire occurred on Mr Hessey's property at half-past cignt in the morning. Witness passed tho buildings at 8 o'clock when going to work. There was no sign of fire then. When ho got to tho buildings, the i wholo three appeared to be burning jogether. The lire appeared to have originated in the loose-box or cowshed. Neither of the barns were visited by anyono for several days. Had no reason to Bupposo that the fire originated in tho barns. There t was no phosphorus or other combustible kept in tho barns. John flessey, the owner of tho property, explained to the Court the position of tho buildings. Ramsey, continuing, said tho wind was towards him as ho camo from . A the bush. The last time he was mMm the loose-box was the previous i day evening. The 10080-box was not kept locked, Horse bedding wbb kept there. Ho did not srnoko, and did not know that anyono on the property smoked, To a juryman: He was at tho fire in time to see tho horso removed from the loose-box. Mr Hessey, jr. took tho horse out,

John Hessey, sworn, said lio was the owner of tho building destroyed. Was away from home when the firo occurred. There was £175 insurance on tho whole of tho buildings. The contouis of tho barn wore insured. He considered £3O would cover the loss sustained on tho contents of the barn. Nover saw Mr Ramsey smoke. The only inflan;mable material kept in any of the buildings was straw, which was kept for bedding purposes. Tho jury, after retiring for a few 'minutes, brought in a verdict that thoro was no ovidenco to show how tho fire occurred.