WAREHOUSE FIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19946, 2 November 1934, Page 5

WAREHOUSE FIRE

INQUIRY INTO ITS ORIGIN

STOREMAN’S EVIDENCE By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, November 1. The inquiry into the origin of a fire in the premises occupied by Davidson and Co., Ltd., 178 Lichfield Street, on June 8, was continued to-day. Leslie Howard Fee, accountant, continued his evidence, discussing the stock sheets and books of the firm. Some of the goods were listed at inflated prices, he said, and he repeated his evidence to show that the books were in certain* respects not correct. Allen McNiell Wilson, a storeman employed by Davidson and Co., said that he valued the goods in the store before the fire at between £4OO and £SOO. He considered that this was a liberal estimate. The last time he posted up the stock book was three Saturdays before the fire. After that Davidson posted up the stock book. Witness remarked at the time that this was unusual. On June 2, six days before the fire, witness secured the stock book and commenced to take stock in the usual way, when Davidson took the book from him, remarking that stock-taking was unnecessary as he (Davidson) had already noted what was wanted. This was most unusual. Certain books now missing witness had seen in the store and later in the office before the fire. They could not have been destroyed by the fire as the fire did not touche the office. A few days before the fire witness noticed that certain stock had been moved and he also noticed five or six bottles spread about in the fixtures. After the fire every line of stock could be traced by the remains, and there was sufficient evidence to indicate the quantity. The Quantities shown in the stock sheets were certainly not in the store when stock was taken. The amount was less than third of that shown. In detailed evidence witness pointed to items exaggerated on the stock sheets. The inquiry was adjourned.