A FIRE ENQUIRY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12282, 28 August 1905, Page 9

A FIRE ENQUIRY.

(ancut) to "thr muss.") ' OAMARU, Augu.«t 26. , The enquiry esked for by the jneurance companies interested into' the fire which occurred'on Sunday week.at iho premises in Thames street, of Robert Walker, dealer in sewing machines, gocarte, etc.' J wae continued all day yesterday before Major Keddoll, >SLM., and a jiiry of six. Sir "Walker, who was cross-examined at great length by 'counsel for the insurance companies, said he thought that the fire must have been smouldering for a long time, though he : did not detect it. He claimed for £560 on the stock,'end £203 on/the Subsequently- he agreed to the appraisement by the valuators, -who assessed tho loss at only £199, altogether. Walker could not account for. such a disparity as £568 between his own assessment of the damage and that mutually agreed upon by valuators.The jury, found as follows:—"That the fire originated in the north-east corner of the shop near the door lending into the Jiitdhen, end ire are of opinion that tie; fire; - was not smouldering ■ from Saturday anight,, but there ■Iβ: hot Bttfßcient evidence to show how the fire efcartcd." ■;.-. •• ; : ..V • ; '..':.;;. ■ ....y' : .