UPPER HUTT CALAMITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9766, 3 April 1914, Page 5

UPPER HUTT CALAMITY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. (Fn Prmß Association.) UPPER HUTT. April 3. The inquest on the victims of the Upper Hutt tragedy opened to-dav before Mr W. G; Riddell. "District Coroner. Mr C. B. Morrison, K.C.. with him Mr O'Leary appeared for Messrs Benge and Pratt, proprietors of the buildings demolished, and Mr T. M. Wilford represented the relatives of the deceased. The first witness was Ernest Charles Thomas, who gave formal .evidence aa to the nature of the explosion, which, ho said, was of such fore* as to blow him 20 yards aero» the road. Just prior to the explosion witness 6aw Constable Mahoney. Taylor, Vivian, Flynn and another insido. Previously witness 6aid to Mahoney: "Are there any explosives in this show," Mahoney replied: "No. it's all right." He heard another man ask the same question of Vivian, and the reply was the same. At the the time of the explosion the flames were making their way to the upper storey of the shop. After the explosion the coat witness was wearing was covered with grey spots. To Mr Wilford: Witness said there was no doubt Mahoney went into the building for the sole purpose of warning those already inside. Taylor, Flynn and Vivian were all engaged in saving property when the explosion occurred. Philip Davis stated that the building occupied by Benge and PratT was one of the oldest in the district. He did not know to what purpose Benge and Pratt put the upstairs rooms. He oould not s*y whether they sold explosives or not. Daniel Dennihv deposed that he arrived on the scene of the fire at 4 a.m. on Sunday, when he was informed that Constable Mahoney's body had not been discovered. He immediately instituted a search, and the remains of. the body was found under sheets of iron, about six feet from ihe inner edge of the footpath. The 'emains were identified a3 the constable's by a pair of handcuffs found amongst the debris at this spot. Constable Melville gave corroborative evidence. Formal evidence of identification of the victims was given by several witnesses. Jas Gerald Comesky, son of the late Jame* Comesky. said he was near by. but heard no explosion, but though ho saw the results of same. Edwards' office, next door, was demolished. Witness saw his father under some timber, but could not extricate him until the water was played 01$ the fire. Deceased was endeavouring to save Government property w hen the explosion occurred. Witness did not know of any water being played on the fire prior to the explosion.