SECOND EDITION. FIRE INQUIRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8510, 12 February 1908, Page 8

SECOND EDITION. FIRE INQUIRY.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the recent fire in College Street, at which Daniel McCurdy lost two vehicles, was held before Captain Mowlem to-day. The following jury waß empanelled :—Messrs Brougham (foreman), Waters, Mowlem, Lyttle, Ritchie and McDonald. Daniel McCurdy stated that he was a cab proprietor living in College Street West. He hid Jbeen' .using the cab on the evening in question, and returned home at 12.45 a.m. He took out the horse and ran the vehicle into the coachhouse, comprising two stalls, a stable and hay loft. The landau was in the shed at the time, and the loft contained about. 40 bags of chaff. Mr Fittam had been using the landau, and returned it on the previous Friday. He had not been in the shed that night except to run the cab in, and had not struck a , light.. The next was Mr Hocken knocking at his do£r about 4 a.m., and on going out was told that the shed was on fire. He ran out and Fire Brigade at work. Both vehicles were • burned, and nothing was saved. He had the landau insured for £125 and the cab for £75 in the London and.Lan- ;■ cashirc Assurance Co. Since tfie fire he had claimed £200 from the Insurance Co. for the two vehicles burnt. He hac not heard the Brigade come down, although they were within thirty yards of the house. Mr J. A. Nash gave evidence as to when the vehicles were insured. (Left sitting.)