CH.CH. FIRE ENQUIRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 November 1934, Page 2

CH.CH. FIRE ENQUIRY

SHIPMENTS TO WEST COAST. (per press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, November 16. The enquiry into the fire at Davidson’s premises was resumed to-day. William Davidson was cross-examined at length and in detail about items in the stock that’were alleged to have been wholly destroyed, leaving no trace; and also about the position of books that had been mislaid or lost since the fire. Witness insisted that the goods in -the store at the time of the fire were worth £2113. Deducting the salvaged stock, the goods famain- ( ing should- have been worth £2OlB. -This, he claimed, was the actual loss by the fire. Questions were asked about certain goods purchased through Davidson Co., but supplied by another firm, and shipped direct to the West Coast. Witness was asked whether this procedure did not swell the purchases, as shown in the books, without a corresponding entry of sales. To a question- as to whether it did not swell his statement of claim by swelling his purchases, witness replied: “I suppose it does.” The Coroner' (to the clerk): Take that down: T suppose it does.’ The Chief Detective and Mr Thomas (in unison): That is what we wanted. In order to try and hasten the end of the enquiry, the- Coroner sat this evening, but the enquiry will go on for some days yet. The witness Davidson was examined about altered invoices, which, it was suggested, were so altered in order to increase the apparent stocks held, and so~increase the amount of the insurance claim.