PIHA TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23277, 21 February 1939, Page 10

PIHA TRAGEDY

VICTIM'S INSURANCES TOTAL ABOUT £SO/000 s. • - POLICE INVESTIGATIONS TWO COMPANIES' INTERESTS i . - Searching inquiries have been made by the Auckland police _ since they learned that there were said to bo insurance policies for approximately £50,000 upon the life of Mr. Gordon Robert McKay, an Australian, aged 43, who was burned to death in a bach at Piha on the morning of February 12. Investigations began last week at the instigation of two solicitors, acting on behalf of two Australian insurance companies, who had cabled their instruc-

tions. An Australian business now connected with an Auckland business, said last night that he knew that Mr. McKay took out an insurance policy for £IO,OOO about five years ago. First Meeting in 1934

"Mr. McKay was a business man of no mean ability," ho said, and it would not surprise me to learn that he was substantially insured. I first met him in 1934, visited him in his own homo, and I gathered the impression that he was very comfortably off. He had a flourishing hide and skin .business. "He was in favour of insurance, and I know that in 1934 he encouraged his four boys to put away so much each week for their insurance. They were a very happy family. Mr. McKay visited me soon after he arrived at Auckland ;by the Mariposa from Sydney on February 6. His interests were widespread, and only last year he went on an extended business trip to England." Immediately after the firo at Piha jfche police inquired into the circumstances, as they normally do. The evidence given at the inquest, which has been adjourned sine die, includes the statement by James Arthur Talbot, who said that for 12 years he lived with Mr. McKay and his family at Burwood, Sydney. He and Mr. McKay came ,to Auckland on February 6. Deceased had trouble with his teeth, and on February 11 he had several extracted. They went that day to a bach they jtook at Piha, to. accelerate Mr. McKay's recovery. , Retired after Midnight The witness said he came to town to keep an appointment, and when he returned to the bach at 11.30 p.m. he found Mr. McKay in bed, but not asleep. He gave Mr. McKay a cup of tea in bed, and shortly after midnight bade him good-night and went to bed in another room. Mr. McKay _ usually was a pipe smoker, but after his teeth had been extracted he smoked cigarettes. He was a heavy smoker. The next fbing he remembered, witness said, was being awakened at 1.30 a.m. The bach was lit up and the two back rooms were full of smoke. The whole place seemed to be on fire. He call.ed out to his friend, but received no reply. He approached Mr. McKay's bedroom, and as ho did so ha saw flames licking through the panelling. He opened the door, but was idriven back by the intense heat, so he hurried outside to get somo water, but could not find a bucket. He sought the assistance of neighbours, but by the time they returned the fire had taken jgomplete control. Theory Regarding Causa '1 could not find deceased, and I now know he was incinerated," witness continued. "I saw the police remove his remains from the smouldering ruins of the building." He said that Mr. McKay used an ordinary kerosene lamp attached to the wall. The lamp appeared jto be safe, when witness last saw it, and he could assume only that the fire .was caused by deceased falling asleep .While he was smoking in bed. The stove which had been used to boil the water for tea was properly extinguished and put aside .after use. Witness had no fire had started in the room occupied by Mr. McKay. No intoxicating liquor was taken to the bach, he concluded, and neither had consumed any. They rarely ever touched liquor. . The remains were buried at the Waikumete Cemetery. Only three people .were in attendance.