FINDING DELIVERED

Southland Times, Issue 21263, 9 December 1930, Page 9

FINDING DELIVERED

FIRE AT MILL.

COMMENT BY CORONER.

(Per United Press Association.)

Blenheim, December 8.

In connection with the inquiry into the fire which destroyed Redwood Bros.’ flour mill at Spring Creek on the night of September 20, the Coroner, Mr E. J. Hill, has delivered the following finding: "Although the evidence adduced at the inquiry was voluminous and left no avenue of investigation unexplored in an endeavour to get to the bottom of the matter, there was nothing in that evidence to guide me in deciding in what manner the outbreak originated. There certainly were suspicious circumstances which fully justified the holding of the inquest. The owner, Mrs Ada Redwood, frankly admitted that she solely, except for the Public Trustee's interest, would beneft from the insurance policies and that the key to the building was accessible only to herself and staff at the homestead, but though that would give a possible motive and opportunity it would not necessarily prove guilty knowledge and there is nothing in the evidence to justify me in bringing in anything other than an open verdict. I find, therefore, that the building known as Redwood Bros.’ flour mill at Spring Creek, owned by Ada Redwood, was destroyed by fire on the evening of September 29, there being no evidence to warrant a definite opinion as to the cause of the outbreak.’’