A MYSTERIOUS FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 66, 18 March 1910, Page 5

A MYSTERIOUS FIRE.

THREE SEPARATE OTJTBREAKS. CORONER'S INQUIRY. On February 26th last there was a fire in premises in Jervois-road, Ponsonby, occupied by Walter Bates, and used by him as an ironmongery store, and the circumstances were thought by the police to be such as to warrant an inquiry. An inquiry was accordingly opened ten days ago, and continued this morning before the Coroner (Mr T. Gresham). ChiefDetective Marsack appeared to represent the police, and the proceedings were watched by Mr H. M. Shepherd, representing several insurance companies interest< d in fire risks in Auckland. William Coupleson, foreman of the Ponsonby Fire Brigade, stated that the alarm in respect of the fire reached the station at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday, February 26th, and within five minutes the brigade was at the scene of the fire. Mr Bates' shop. Flames could be seen through one of the front lower corners of the building. Flames were rising tc the roof. When he burst open the front door of the building leading into the shop he saw a basin containing burning clothes-pegs. A few yards away the wooden wall and ceiling bad been ignited. After this fire was got under he found a partly-burnt barrel at the place He was satisfied that the two fires were the result of separate outbreaks, and that thi one could not have arisen from the other. Witness, in company witl) Superintendent Woolley, who had mean time arrived with the City Brigade, then examined a room adjoining the shop, and there they discovered a smouldering bos of clothes. The fire had burned througl the lid of the box, and the paper on the wall near it was also burning. This fire was quite unconnected with the other two. Mr Marsack: As an expert, what do you consider was the cause of these fires?—T don't tbink it possible that these fires were the result of accident. There was no connection between the outbreaks. Hoiw long do you consider they had been burning?—l think the barrel was probably burning for a quarter or hali an hour, the basin of clothes-pegs foi about a quarter of an hour or 20 minutes, and the box of clothing must have been burning for a good while. Were there any evidences of oil or kerosene about the fires?— No. Or any remains of wax matches? —No. Leslie Clarke, an employee of the Royal Exchange Insurance Company, stated" in evidence that he made a valuation oi Mt. Bates' personal effects on January 27th last, with a view to the company giving a policy covering them. He valued his clothing and effects at about £40. Finally Bates took out a policy covering them to the extent of £25. Neville N'ewcomb, agent at Auckland for the Royal Exchange Insurance Company, said that on the Monday morning after the fire Mr. Bates told witness that he had had a are in his room, and led witness to believe that he had lost all his effects. Since the fire he had received from Bates no proof of loss and no claim for the insurance money. Douglas Alexander Brown, canvasser for the Standard Insurance Company, reI lated the purport of several conversations I lie had had with Bates re insuring his j effects. On the proposal form Bates answered "No" to the query as to whether he 'had ever had goods or property of his burned or on fire before. Bate's qualified this by saying that he had onffl worked in a shop where there had been a fixe, but that he was not interested nor concerned in it. Eventually the company took a risk of £S5, covering Balos' stock. This was on 14th January. On the Monday following the fire outbreak, witness, went to Bates' shop and ■remarked then that the amount of stock then in the place was smaller than when it was insured. Witness considered that the value was less by a-bout £20. Bates said that he had sold a good deal. Witness said, "I thought you told mc that you were going to buy some more," and Bates replied that he had bought smaiJ quantities from time to time. At the time Bates took out tbe insurance police he told witness that soon he intended to bring his to live in the back portion of the building, that he would then furnish Uhe rooms, and that he -would insure the furniture with witness' company. (Proceeding.)