OAMARU. 28th November.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 283, 29 November 1878, Page 2

OAMARU. 28th November.

Mr. Beetham held an inquest yesterday at the Royal Hotel, Waimate, on the late bush fire. Messrs. Newton, Hemmersley, and Clements appeared for those who had property destroyed ; Mr. White appeared for Mr. Studholme. The evidence went to show that the fire was lighted on the 12th, on what are known as Hunter Ranges, and gradually spread in a southerly direction until it reached the edge of the bush on Friday morning, the 15th November. Between the 12th and 13th— before the fire had reached the bush— some of the adjacent owners served Studholme with notice, stating that they considered it dangerous to their property. Mr. Studholme's shepherds gave evidence which went to show that when musterimg Mr. Studholme's sheep between the Bth and 15th November, they resorted to the usual practice of lighting signal fires, and one of them (Griersou) acknowledged that on the 12th he lighted three fires on the south-east side of Hunter Range. These firts were those noticed by the psople of Waimate. A verdict was returned to the effect that there was not sufficient evidence to prove how the fire originated. Much interest was taken in the result.