ORIGIN OF A FIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16455, 17 June 1921, Page 8

ORIGIN OF A FIRE.

CORONER’S INQUIRY. “NO OVER INSURANCE.” An enquiry was held to-day before Mr S. E. M’Car thy, S.M., into the circumstances surrounding a fire that occurred on June 3 at 188 Hereford Street, damaging premises occupied by Weston Bros., manufacturers and importers of leather goods, Chandler and Co., Ltd., advertising agents, J. I. Smail, electrical engineer, and Andrews, Baty and Co., Ltd. Sergeant Brien represented tfie police, and Mr W. F. Tracy appeared on behalf of Messrs Weston Bros. The first witness was Superintendent Warner, of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, who said that the call was received at 6.30 a.m. When the brigade arrived, the second and third floors were well alight, and flames were issuing from windows facing the right-of-way, which indicated that the fire had started in that vicinity. After working for about twenty minutes, an explosion took place that blew off a portion of the roof, with the result that draught took the fire into the front portion of the building. In his opinion, the fire originated in the top floor near what was known as the leather room. The probable cause of the explosion would be the dense volumes «of smoke, combined with the large quantity of perfumes and chemicals, which, he understood, were stored immediately below the leather room. The Coroner: Did you form any opinion as to the origin of the fire?— No. Ernest Edwin Weston, member of the firm of Weston Bros., said that he left the building on June 2 at about 5.30 p.m. in company with his brother and Mr ltobson. They had been on the second floor. The firm’s employees left the top floor at 5 p.m. Gas fires were used on the premises and the meter was turned off every night. The firm of Weston Bros, had stock in the building amounting to £38,000, which was covered by insurances totalling £22,000. On April ly at a stocktaking, the goods had been written down to £35,000.

To Mr Tracy: Profits were carried forward in the business from year x to year, so that all the available capital was in the business. Witness was quite willing to open up his hooka and answer any possible question about tho firm.

The Coroner: How long have you been in the business ?—We took over from my father in 1915. What was the annual turnover?*— In 1916 it was £3000; 1917, £6000; 1918, £8000; 1919, £12,000; 1920, £28,000; 1921, £38,000.

Can. you recal what stock you held each year?—l cannot recollect, but I could get it from my books We would like to have that later, if you can bring the books here. Frederick George Weston, said that he was in charge of the manufacturing portion of the building. He left the top floor at about 5 o’clock when everything was all right. He could not give any opinion as to the origin of tho fire. There was rather a largo stock of chemicals on the premises. The Coroner: According to your view and that of your brother, you are both heavy losers?—Yes.

Richard Cargeeg, clerk in the Liverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Co., said that his company held three policies on the stock of Weston Bros, the total amount being £22,000. In Octobe - *, 1920, witness examined the rj tock. and on April 30 he was told b Mr Weston that the stock held was at £37,000. Robert T. Tosswill, accountant, adjii’tir foi the insurance company, said that lie had examined the books and balance-sheet of Weston Bros. The books were kept in a first-class mannerAt the balance, taken in April, stock was shown as £34,148. As an adjuster, he was perfectly satisfied 'that the stock was in existence Making allowance for additional purchases,, etc., as well as for stock sold and salvage, witness estimated that on June 3 there was stock in the building valued at £30.477. The Coroner: —What was the gross profit on turnover?—For tho year ending April, 1920, it was 29.41 per cent; for 1 1921, it was 34.46. Mr Tracy: The Westons have lost their capital and their £>rofits and are back where they started?—They are worse off. James S. Middleton, accountant in the National Bank, handed in a statement showing the firm’s turnover since 1916. To Mr Tracy: The Bank had no complaint to make with regard to the firm’s account. James M. Stewart, auditor, produced the balance-sheet of Weston Bros.

R. T. Tosswill, recalled, said that in 1920 the firm’s sales amounted to £28.339 and in 1921 to £34,712. The Coroner returned a verdict that the premises of Weston Bros, had been accidentally destroyed by fire; that at the time of the fire Weston Bros were in a sound finanqial position, making reasonable profits, and their stock did not appear to have been either overvalued or and that Wo ston Bros, wore heavy losers by the fire.