FIRE INQUIRY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 4

FIRE INQUIRY.

Evidence Given Before Coroner. j REGENT STREET OUTBREAK. After evidence had been heard at an inquiry into a fire which started in a shop at 35, Regent Street, on the evening of July 31 last, an adjournment was made until 2. 15 to-day. The inquiry was begun yesterday before Mr E. D. Mosley, Coroner. The shop was occupied by Harry \\ alter Benson Jacobs, and contained stocks used by him in his signwriting business. Mr Burns appeared for Mr Jacobs and Chief-Detective Dunlop conducted the inquiry. Norman Frederick George Fletcher, a signwriter employed by Mr Jacobs at the time of the fire, said his employer had two shops—one in Colombo Street and the other in- Regent Street. The Regent Street shop was used for display purposes. On Monday, July 31, he was sent to a carrier’s firm to make arrangements for shifting the stock from Regent Street. The carrier said he would do it that afternoon. Witness then went to the shop to pack sundries. He did not smoke, nor did he light matches there. When he left the shop there was no sign of fire. He locked the front door, but was not sure about the back door. The keys which witness had he returned to | Jacobs. Rent Transactions. Charles Gordon Woods, a plumber, with premises at 814 a, Colombo Street’ said Mr Jacobs had been a tenant of his for four years past. Up till April, 1932, Jacobs paid 22s 6d rent, but then the rent was reduced to 17s 6d a week and had remained at that. Financially, Jacobs was not a good tenant, and on May 14, 1932, witness secured a judgment lor £7B 9s 7d for rent and general account. Again on May 18, 1933, witness got judgment for another £4B 7s Od as rent. Between the twe dates, Jacobs paid him only £lO, and on July 31 he owed witness £ll9 2s Id, less £l4 which witness owed him. Witness threatened to put in a bailiff, but then came to an agreement. Just after the fire Jacobs told him that he was getting some money and would be able to “ square up.” Jacobs had never been able to give more than £24 worth of stock as security, and at the time of the fire owed £lO4 10> Id. About April or May, 1933, continued witness, Jacobs moved goods from Colombo Street to Regent Street, comprising odds and ends and bits of signs. “ I w'ould be very surprised if this stock was worth £looo,’’ he said. “ I w r ould certainly not have accepted the stock for the amount he owed me. I had seen all the Colombo Street stock, and came to the conclusion that it was not worth much.” Insurance Cover. Douglas Brown, an officer of the State Fire Office, detailed negotiations which Jacobs had started with him early in July for insurance on the Regent Street stock. On July 13, witness inspected the stock with Jacobs, who asked for £IOOO cover. On that or on a subsequent occasion, Jacobs said that the stock was worth more than £IOOO, comprising several valuable Neon signs. Witness was doubtful as to the value of the stock, as he had never handled that class of stuff before. As witness w r as still doubtful about the value of the stock, he was given a written estimate. On July 27 he received another letter from Jacobs containing particulars of the values. These were: Neon signs £240, advertising display signs £SOO 10s, and general electrical displays £3BO, a total of £ll2O 10s invoiced costs to factory Jacobs was informed that £IOOO cover would not be made until the premium was paid. • Jacobs paid in the £3 Is 9d required on July 28. Had witness known the goods were about to be moved out, the cover would have been held up. Cross-examined, witness said that stock valuations were often made from invoices and stock books. The £IOOO estimate struck him as high, as would have an estimate of £SOO. He did not suspect gross inflation, or he would have withdrawn. The writt.n valuation settled the question, for he had to rely mainly on the owner’s valuation. The Magistrate: We have had reliable evidence that the signs were practically worthless. Constable N. M. Boag said that at 2.5 a.m. on July 29 he found the back door of the shop unlocked but closed. On subsequent nights it was locked.