THE ARAMOHO FIRE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVII, Issue 12283, 17 September 1904, Page 2

THE ARAMOHO FIRE.

THE INQUIPvY

An inquiry into the circumstances connected, with, the fire at the old Wesley an Church was held at the Courthouso yesterday morning, before Mr R. L. Stanford (Coroner) stod the following jury—Messrs A. Townsend; W. Pyemont,. J. McCarthy, P. MoKinnon, J. H. Hay, and Wesley Knight. A. S. Dymoek, clerk in the Waitotara County Council office, produced the valuation, troll, which showed that the capital value of tihe church, pi'operty was £175 and the unimproved value £150; improvements —i.e., value of building—were set dawn at £25. • Thomas Hemy Battle, captain or the Fire Brigade,, stated fh'at he inspected the liTiildiri^^inieias: months ago. Itwas 40ft. x 24ft.., and consisted of one a-toom witih an old lean-it o and a porch. Tlie sides w€ire weather-boarded, and were in varied condition, some boards toeing sound and some decayed. The iroof, which was of shingle, was almostdone. The tome was fairly sound. The value of the building for removal purposes was £20. It would have cost £150 to convert the building into <a six-roomed ■house. George Morris Spurdle, treasurer the Weslleyan Trust. A ram olio, sa;d tne building, Which ihiad been unused since May, 1903, was 'about 30 years old. It and the section (over i-aor-e) were sold to O. L. Duigan in, March, 1903. for £285. There Was then on 'the building >an insurance policy of £200, but about four years before it was insured for £300. The building wjvs in fair condition Avhen sold, having some.two years before been irenovaited and new foundations put in. Estimated thaib it would cost £250 to convert die church into a residence, 'or £50 to convert) it into <a hall. The value, for re-building, would 'be about £100. Witness considered £200 a fair insurance when tihe 'building was in use. Herbert James Duigan gave evidence ac to Duigan and Co. having bought the 'building for £285 .and selling it'for £295 to Ma- Gilbert, he to pay cost of survey and cost of bringing section under the Land Transfer Act. -When .-'■■ the firm •bought the property the building was insured for £300, tut this fell but in November. 1903. The firm1 .-considered' the value to be £250/ ' , • Edward Ellery Gilbert cciToborated tne previous witnesses' evidence as to purChasing the property. At the time of tfop fire witness did not kjibw what the buildino- was insured for. At 'about 3.30 or 3.45 on the morning of the 11th witness

waa (awakened by the fierce 'barking'of a, dog.; Th.-nking that horsies had got into' the garden, he got out of bed and drew up the window blind. Seeing ..nothing, he returned to bed, 'but shortly afterwards saw a glare and found that the old efhueeh Was on fire. .'Other members of the family were also awakened. 'As soon •as witnets was dressed he went to the scene of the fire. The building was empty, andi witness intended making alterations to it in January next. James Scott 'also gave evidence as to seeing the fire.

The jury returned a verdict that there was no evidence to show from what caiitse the fire occurred.