INSURANCE DISPUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 169, 19 June 1931, Page 3

INSURANCE DISPUTE

FREEZING WORKS FIRE. Pc-r Press Association. GISBOItNE, June 18. The evidence of plaintiffs was continued in the Supreme Court this morning in the action in which the Wairoa Farmers’ Aleat Company and the Bank of New Zealand are claiming £77.850 from the New Zealand and Eagle Star insurance companies. Patrick Cowan, a fireman, related the damage done by the earthquake on February 3. The works were running normally after the poweiv was restored. On the fifth he felt a slight ’quake at 9 p.m. and about 9.45 received an indication of the fire which was located at the store. Cross-examined, witness stated that ail ammonia pipe was repaired on February 3. There had been no fire drill at the works. Reginald Samuel Corbett, a tallow foreman, deposed that after the ’quake all the buildings were in good condition except the gable end of the preserving block and the chimney stack. The lire occurred in Die southwest corner of C. store, close to the river. People had a habit of using the intervening space as a lovers walk and lie had seen fishing nets stored under the corner store. Cross-examined, witness said the cracks in the wall of the tallow store were there when witness took over his position prior to the earthquake. It was seven minutes before the brigade arrived. It consisted of a dozen men. The fire had then a good hold and the water was cut off soon after. David Byfield, superintendent of the fire brigade, detailed the brigade’s operations after the alarm. After crossing the damaged bridge ho and his men were taken by cars to the works, whither the firemen residing on the north side of the river had taken the hose and reel. They knocked down a door and played water into the store. The pressure was not too good and he asked the engineer for more, but Alarslmll said the pumps were doing their best. A second lead was put on and reduced the pressure, which became so low that it was merely running from the nozzle. He then ordered that the power be Cut off. Tho flames were gaining with great rapidity and he instructed the firemen to save what they could. Aleat trucks were pushed away and other salvage work done. The fire raged through the night. The fact that they were unable to get a water tender across the river was no hindrance as they had plenty of hose at the works. Witness was absolutely certain that the origin of the fire was in C store and it appeared to have started either on or under the floor. Fourteen firemen were there.. It was a good turnout, the men being quickly on the spot. They received all the assistance asked foi from the company’s employees. On the day of the ’quake two Wairoa buildings had been destroyed—one by the upsetting of a kerosene stove and the other in Dalgety’s store by matches igniting when tipped over on the shelves. In another case a bottle of methylated spirits fell on a stove and ignited, but a second shake rocked a water tank and put the fire out. The organisation of the brigade had not been disturbed by the ’quake. Cross-examined by Air Ford, the superintendent of the fire brigade stated that there was no water in the town mains on the night of the fire in consequence of the February 3 ’quake. The water supply available would not reach the ceiling of tho store. The flames came throughout a crack in the wall before they came through the roof. The opening was due to the wall parting from the building. He expected that there would be ample pressure, irrespective of whether the water came from the works’ reserve or the river; but for fire-fighting the supply given was hopeless. William Brown Pederson, a brigadesman and slaughterman, gave similar evidence.

Constable Tuck,, of Wairoa, said that the first lie' saw of the fire was what appeared to be a naked flare over the loading-out door of “C” store. He thought it was a light placed there to assist loading-out. After the alarm had been given he went to the works. On the day after the big earthquake he noticed a certain amount of damage at the works.

Cross-examined by Air Grav for the defence, witness said that a good many buildings in Wairoa had been damaged by the earthquake. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s store, five hundred yards from the freezing works, had been badly damaged. He examined the works only out of curiosity, and saw a board projecting on the south-west corner of the building. When the fire broke out two days later twenty-five minutes elapsed between when he saw what lie took to bo a flare and the sounding of the alarm. The earthquake on the night of the fire was nothing serious. There had been worse tremors between the big earthquake and then. The fire was inside the door. Hn his arrival the pressure from the hose was not as good as the town mains usually give. The board he saw projecting looked as if it liad been pulled out, but it might have been sprung. William Marshall chief engineer, said that before the earthquake the works were in first-class condition. About four years ago repairs were made to “C” store, hut the old electric wires on the middle floor were disconnected. The wires were cut outside the building, and the wiring of the top floor was left untouched. After the earthquake the electric equipment at the works was first-class. The pumps were just as usual after the earthquake. Soon after his arrival at the fire the superintendent of the brigade said that the position was hopeless, and ordered the shutting off of the power for fear of live wires falling and injuring somebody. Cross-examined, witness said that if he had been told after the big earthquake that the power would bo off for a week he would have started up the steam plant. The fellmongery end of the buildings was weaker than the slaughterhouse end. The earthquake broke a flange off a condenser pipe. None of the buildings had to be shorn up. “Why did you swear affidavits of discovery as to documents in possession of the company?” asked counsel. Witness: The management was away. Did you know what documents were in possession of the company?—No. Was it the act of an honest man to sign affidavits in the circumstances? — I thought it was a matter of routine. Continuing, witness said that the boiler could have functioned without the chimney stack. Trevor Smith, Public Works Department engineer, of Wairoa, gave evidence regarding the effect of the ’quake in the district. The principal damage was on the opposite side of the river from the freezing works. An examination of tho works

two hours after the shake revealed little structural damage. Charles P. Drcwitt, Wairoa Power Board engineer, stated that the fuses were removed from “C” store installation four years ago. After the ’quake the electric installation at the freezing works was wholly undamaged. After inspecting the beds of the motors witness authorised the restoring of the current immediately without further inspection. Witness was the only Powei Board employee to visit the works from the time of the ’quake to February 15. Wires stretched tightly between the buildings were undamaged after the ’quake. When the power was restored the day after the ’quake the freezing machines started normally, and there was altsolutely no evidence that they were out of alignment. At 10 p.m. the hearing adjourned until to-morrow.