BURNING OF MAIL BAGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 31

BURNING OF MAIL BAGS.

CORONER'S POINTED COMMENT. WHANGAREI,- August 24. Arising out of the destruction by fire (involving a mail box) of the Kahoe Bridge Store, on 20 last, an inquiry was conducted by Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., at Kaeo on Wednesday.' The postmaster at Kaeo testified that the mail contractor left there on May 19 with four bags for delivery at Kahoe' Bridge, containing, among other matter, £BO in notes, £9 9s lOd wortH of stamps, and £125 in cheques on the Whangaroa Dairy Company. Other witnesses stated that, after the fire, there was no sign amongst the debris of the iron rings attached to the bags, and no remains of the bags or mail or other indications of their destruction by fire. Several persons were. called upon to give an account of their movements at the time of the fire, but nothing transpired conclusive enough to warrant proceedings. The coroner, commenting, said: “ I find that the Kahoe Bridge Store mail box was destroyed by fire early on the iporning of May 20, the fire bfeiiig caused by the deliberate act of some person or person?. unknown, who first removed the mttil bags left by the carrier. The’ evidence ’is inconclusive to prove the identity, bf the guilty persons, lam not at' all satisfied' with the evidence of Frank Saies, Simon Fleming, and James Fleming. • ! ?