THE FIRE AT MING QUONG'S STORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 3

THE FIRE AT MING QUONG'S STORE.

The inquiry into the recent fire at Ming Quong's store, Epsom, was resumed yesterday before Mi;. J. Bollard, M.H.R coroner, and a jury of six. Mr. C. J. Parr appeared to watch the case on behalf of the insurance companies concerned. Mr. Whitaker (Whitaker and Bjiunie) represented Ming Quong, and the police were represented by ChiefDetective Grace and Acting-Detective Kennedy. Ah Quen, the next witness called, gave evidence through the interpreter, and said that he was a Chinese gardener, in the employ of Ming Quong at Epsom, at the time of the fire, and lived and slept on Ming Quong's property. The fire occurred on a Wednesday night, when witness was in bed. About half-past nine witness went outside, but saw no sign of lire about the store. Lee Yen afterwards went outside, and shortly afterwards some Europeans called out, " John; fire," and someone threw stones on the roof, but they took no notice of it. Being aroused by someone knocking, Hee Leung, Foo Wong, and Mooug Long, got up and went out, and afterwards the witness and they went out to look at the fire. Witness put on bis clothes, and on going outside, saw a number of Europeans there, lie heard then that Ming Quong was in town. Ming Quong employed witness as carter, gardener, and ploughman. Witness was in tho store occasionally before the fire. On the Tuesday before the fire lie carted some stuff from tho store for Ming Quong, but did not know what the packages contained. Witness took them to the wharf, opposite the weighbridge. At the time he removed the packages, all the goods could be put in one corner of tho store. Witness did not know how many cartloads there were, but they would fill about the half the building up to the roof. There was no loft in the store. There Was corn and wheat in the store, but witness did not notice any chaff. There were about 100 bags of rice in the store. About a week before the fire one chest of tea and about 20 bags or rice were taken from the store to the men's hut. About two or three weeks before the fire, rice was carted from the store to the house at the Costley Home. Ming Quong's relations removed goods from the store to Ming Quong's house about two weeks before the fire. The only alarm witness heard was when the Europeans called out, once the stones were thrown. It was not usual for such large quantities as 18 or 20 bags of rice to be carted to the house at tho Costley Home. Two bags of rice would last the men there sometimes a week and sometimes two or three weeks, but it would depend on the number of men working there. Witness remembered meeting Ming Quong about two Mondays ago in Wyndham-strcet. Ming Quong asked witness if he had brought the detective to arrest 1100 Shleng. Witness said, "No; I left my hat in the house at the Costley Home, and I went to get it." Ming Quong told witness that he would trust him, as they had been good friends for ten years. Ming Quoiig further said, "Don't listen to anyone what they tell you; you can't get the reward,' and added, "If you are going to get a reward the insurance inan will have to write you out a paper." Ming Quong also said that it would have to be advertised in the paper before he could get it. He said, " If you get £2 or £3, it. would be no use to you. It would do you no good to put me in gaol. You will only ruin me; that's all." lie also remarked that the insurance was not much. To Mr. Parr: When Ming Quong said the insurance was not much, lie also said, " If I had set fire to the store. I would only get the European's money, which is not much." Ming Quoug, in speaking about the reward, said, " If you go to the insurance companies for a reward, they will have to give you a paper, and advertise it in the newspapers." Witness did not go to the insurance company for any reward, and told him he would not go against him. The conversation with Ming Quong was in front of Thomas Quoi's house in Wvndham-street. Witness carted the goods to the wharf on the Tuesday weok before the fire.

To Mr. Whitaker: Witness was not in Ming Quong's employ, having left it three weeks ago, but wiu on friendly terms with Ming Quong. Witness told Quoi to interpret his evidence to the detective, and tell him what lie was prepared to say. Witness was not offered £150 to give evidence in the case. It was the custom of Ming Quong's employees to lake in turn tho horses from the stable to the paddock, after they had their feed. To the Coroner: They did not have any conversation as to the probable cause of the fire. The Coroner suggested that a plan, showing the position of the men's quarters and storehouse, should be prepared, as there appeared to tie some doubt, as to whether it was possible for the witness to see the fire out of the window of his dwelling. In reply to Detective Grace, the witness said that four others besides himself had been discharged from Ming Quong's employ since the lire, on account of want of employment for them. Mary McDonald, servant, in the employ of Ming Quong, said that she had not retired to bed when the fire broke out. Witness saw the lire at about half-past ten, when one end of the building was in flames. Ming Quong arrived about twelve o'clock, when the store and contents were completely burned. Witness and Ming Quong started to write out a list of the contents of tho store. Ming Quong put down the value of each item, and made an entry in Chinese in the margin. Witness wrote at Ming Quong's dictation, and lie had no books to refer to. Witness was up all night, making out the books, as Ming Quong said that he wanted to have them ready to take in next day. Ho told her that by-and-by he would give her a present. He told witness that his loss in tho fire was £400 over the £1000 insurance. To Mr. Parr: Ming Quong did not toll witness why he wished to take his books into town on tho day after the fire. Frederick Page, carter, said that on February 25 he took a load of stuff from Ming Quong s store for delivery on the wharf. There was not a great deal in the store at the time, and about two drayloads would have taken it all away. There was 110 loft in the store. Harry Mills, carter, also deposed to carting a load of goods. Witness was rather curious to see what was inside a Chinaman's store, and did not think there was more than a load or a load and a-half in the store. Witness could not say whether there was a loft or not. Witness did not notice any rice. K. N. Brown gave evidence with reference to seeing the fire, after which an adjournment was made till the following day.