INQUIRY INTO FIRE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 33, 2 November 1934, Page 6

INQUIRY INTO FIRE

Evidence of a Storeman CHRISTCHURCH HEARING By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, November 1. The inquiry into the origin of a fire in the premises occupied by Davidson and Co., Ltd., 168 Lichfield Street, on Juue 8. was continued to-day. Leslie Harold Fee, accountant, continued his evidence, discussing stock sheets and books of the firm. Some of the goods were listed at inflated prices, he said, and he repeated his evidence to show that the books were in certain respects not correct. Allen McNeal Wilson, storeman employed by Davidson and Co., said that lie valued the goods in the store before the fire at between £4OO and £5OO. He considered this a liberal estimate. The last time he posted up the stock book was three Saturdays before the fire. After that Davidson posted up the stock book. Witness remarked at the time that this was unusual. On June 2, six days before the fire, witness secured the stock book and commenced to take stock in the usual way, when Davids-on took the book from him, remarking that stocktaking was unnecessary, as he (Davidson) had already noted what was wanted. This was most unsual. Certain books now missing witness bad seen in the stare, and later in the office before the fire. There they could not have been destroyed by Are, as the fire did not touch the office. A few days before the fire witness noticed that certain stock had been moved, and he also noticed five or six bottles spread about in a fixture. After the fire the line of the stock could be traced by the remains, and there was sufficient evidence to indicate the quantity. The quantities shown in the stock sheets were certainly not in the store when stock was taken; the amount was less than a third of that shown. In detailed evidence witness pointed to items exaggerated on the stock sheets. • Air. Niblock (in the absence of Air. Sim), appearing for AV. Davidson, said that consequent ujion comment on the non-production of books, .Jie and Mr. Evans (an accountant) had visited the warehouse, and they now produced additional books of entry, ledgers, and also some correspondence. The coroner (Mr. E. D. Mosley, SAI.): There are still three important books missing, a credit book, a store re-entry book, and a price book dealing with transactions with Alennies, Ltd., an Auckland flrm. “There Is no sign of. those,” said Mr. Niblock. The hearing was adjourned.