FIRES AT WAIUKU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16344, 26 September 1916, Page 9

FIRES AT WAIUKU.

OPENING OF INQUIRY.

EVIDENCE OF RESIDENTS.

[fit TELEGRAPH.— RKPORTKR.]

WAIUKU. Monday. As inquiry into the circumstances of the two fires that occurred at Waiukn on August 27 and 28 last, was held at Waiuku to-day by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M. The fires destroyed ten shops, offices, and dwellings, owned by Henare Hainan, James Denize, Henry Mellsop, and James dribble, and occupied by Henry Storey, Harry Thomas Bint, George Walding, James Cribble, Henry Stephen Limmer, Albert Edward King, and William Farrelly Detective dimming? appeared for tho police, Dr. H. Dean Bamford watched the proceedings on behalf of the Victoria Insurance Company, and Mr- R. McVeagh foi Mr- Harry Thomas Bint. James Dunibell Denize, a farmer, residing at Waiuku, Henry Oswald Mellsop, land agent, Albert Edward E. King, a stationer, Henry Storey, jeweller, gave evidence regarding insurances and losses. George Tivanon, keeper of the billiard saloon in Walding's Buildings said on Sunday, August 27, he saw smoke issuing from Cribble's cellar. The fire was just smouldering. Tho smouldering articles had all been removed when he arrived, and the fire was apparently out when he left. Contents of a Cellar. James Gribble, a saddler, and owner of the building known as Cribble's Buildings, said the insurance on the witness's own shon was £265. There was £10 on a shed at the back and £10 on a verandah. The stock was insured for £830 in the South British Office, and £50 in the Standard. Witness received £2 5s rent from his tenants in the other part of the building. On the shops let there was an insurance of £350 in the South British.' His stock on the night of the fire would be worth about £1100. That would not include customers' property left for repairs. The fire started in tho cellar. Stored in it on Iho Sunday night were three, or four cases of lubricating oil, two drums of neatsfoot oil, about three sacks of hair, about 141b of cocoanut fibre, and some sacks and packing. There was no paper except what might have been packed round the oil. There was a long packing case in the cellar. Witness locked up on the Saturday about 9.15 p.m. There was no entrance from the shop to tho callar and none of his employees was in the cellar on Saturday. The 'entrance to the cellar faced the river, and was secured by a padlock. There were two keys— witness had one and the other was kept in the shop. Judging from the amount of sacking affected by the fire witness thought the fire had been in progress \ about an hour. A Used Wax Match, About sft from where tho burning material had been taken out witness saw a heap of burned paper and hair, which had evidently burned itself out some time previously. The horsehair would have the effect of preventing the fire spreading. The hair and paper were in a little heap, as if placed there together. There was also a used max match. Witness was certain the heap had not been left by his staff. He pointed it out to the constable

hefore going homo to breakfast at about 7.30 a.m. The fire was quite out, and everything was safe. He returned about an hour later, and cleared out the cellar. None of the articles removed had been affected by the fire, except a case which ho had scraped and drenched with water. He paid another visit about 3.30 p.m., and inspected tho cellar. The following morning witness was aroused bv Mr. Arkle, and returned to the shop. He found the fire again alight, and the hack portion of his shop blazing well. Waldina's and Limmer's soon caught, but he managed to 'save a few articles. The whole of his shop and buildings were destroyed. Witness estimated his loss on stock and biddings over and above the insurance at about £1000. I To Mr. Bamford: Witness told the con- ! stable of his suspicions of incendiarism. Hint was present, but passed no opinion :on that occasion, but after the fire on ' Monday he expressed the opinion that it was incendiarism. Hint first spoke to witness of insurance about 12 months ago. Ho did not sign a proposal. Witness aid I not push the matter, as his company already had a largo risk in the block, and j a baker's risk was not always desirable. i To Mr. McVoagh : The buildings were all | wood, and from an insurance point of 'view a hazardous risk. There was no water service or fire brigade in the district. Dint had been narrving on husi- ■ ness in the premises for about three or! Jour years. Discovery of First Outbreak. Harry Stephen Limmer, a butcher, who! occupied premises in Cribble's buildings, said when ho was called at about 6.30 a.m. | by Bint and Walding the fire was just i starting to blaze up. Walding got some 1 wet sacks and he and Bint put them on. [Witness went to his shop and got some brine, and Bint put it on the fire. Bint I said he was the first to discover the I fire, and that he called WaldingThe fire was soon extinguished. Between 4 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. on Monday morning witness was awakened by the sound of falling glass, and saw the flames break through at the back of Cribble's cellar, and in about 15 minutes the whole place was burning. Witness saved the greater part of his hooks, desk, and safe. Pie was insured for £75 on his stock, j furniture and fixtures in the South British Office. His loss would be about £50 to £100. Witness did not see Bint until the fire was over.

Opinions as to Origin. To Dr. Bamfcrd : Witness thought the fire accidental, as the door of the cellar bad to be burst open. Cribble said he thought it suspicious and would get the police. To Mr, McVeagh : He saw Bint carry out some burning straw and throw a sack over it. Re-examined : Witness did not recollect telling Detectjye Cummings that he did not think the fire was accidental, but when Cribble found the match, paper, and the hair, witness thought it might be suspicious. William Farrelly, carpenter, who had a storeroom in Cribble's Buildings, said his stock was valued at £50, and was uninsured. Baker Gives Alarm. George Samuel Aikel, a baker, carrying on a business in Queen Street, Waiuku, whose shop was on the south of the block of buildings destroyed, said he arose at 1 a.m. on Monday to attend to the dough. There was then no sign of fire. At 4.25 a.m. his son said there was a noise, and on looking out he saw the reflection of fire. He aroused his family, and then aroused Walding's, By this time the fire had a good hold in dribble's cellar, and witness assisted to 1 prevent the flames spreading. Witness had no insurance on his stock. Esmeralda Dorothy Perry, a sales- ' woman in the employ of Mr. Black, ' and a boarder at Bint's, deposed to Bint, calling her and other boarders about 20 1 minutes before the fire reached his place. There was ample time to remove the ' money and clothing if it had been thought ! of. There would be more time to secure ' things from the front than from the back. 1 The Court adjourned until to-morrow ; morning. . t ~