FIRE AT GARAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 8

FIRE AT GARAGE

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY HEARING OF EVIDENCE ENDS [ Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 15. The garage lire inquiry was concluded to-day. William Edward Turnbull, secretary to Birkett and Bon, said that ho entered the firm’s service in November last. He gave details of insurance negotiations. The Queensland Co. al lowed the firm 20 per cent, commission. Witness was at the garage on the night of the fire. He left the office at about 10 p.m., and shortly before midnight received a telephone call at his home, Island Bay, informing him that the garage was on fire, so he got out oi bed and came to the city. Witness arrived at the garage the next morning at about 8 o 'clock. The garage was not packed with cars any closer than at any other time. There was room for more cars. The firm also used Patterson’s stores for housing cars, and there were frequent transfers of cars between the two places. Witness understood that the £7OOO policy covered everything. Witness discovered last Bunday that all the firm’s tools were missing, and also some stock. Hundreds of people visited the garage on the day after the fire. Witness was inclined to think that the fire was caused deliberately, but could not say by whom. Questioned by Mr Wilson, witness said he was formerly associated with Birkett in Conducted Tours, Ltd. A car had gone over a bank a few days before the garage lire and was destroyed by fire. The same thing had happened to a truck at Bhannon on February 12. Only two persons had keys of the garage on the night of the fire—himself and the foreman mechanic. Air Watson: Who told you first that the garage was on fire?—A taxi driver named Lynch. Lynch had a car burnt in the garage fire that night?—Yes. And Lynch was driving one of Birkett’s cars that night?—Yes. Eighteen additional cars were brought to the garage from Patterson’s stores two days before the fire cars and camo under the insurance as soon as they entered the garage. Do you admit a fraud on the insurance company?—You can’s defraud an insurance company. They would not take it from you, old man. “Do you call me old man. I won’t have any impertinence from you, and you must behave yourself in the box,” said counsel sharply. Witness said that he admitted overvaluation, but did not admit fraud. Eighty per cent, of the firms in the Dominion, he declared, acted as his firm had done. Air Watson: Were you responsible for the book-keeping of Birkett and Sons?—Yes. Are you an accountant?—T am an engineer by profession. What price did Birkett and Sons receive for their stock and goodwill from the new company?—They received 5000 fully paid shares in the £lO,000 company, and Air Birkett was to become managing director of the new company at £lOOO a year. Birkett and Sons defaulted to the Mercantile Finance Company to the extent of £l2s—Yes, but the amount has since been paid. In answer to the coroner, witness said that the loss on the profit and loss account of the firm from November, 1929. to August, 1930, was £2651 7s Bd, and the loss from September 1, 1930, to February 28, 1931, had been £706 5s sd. The Coroner: You say you do not agree with the fire board’s theory of the fire?—Yes. I consider a strong draught in the building caused che fire to soar to the roof. Superintendent Creeke, recalled by Mr Watson, said that the wicket door had been kicked in by him on the night of the fire. All the other doors were securely locked, and there were no signs of a burglary. The Coroner intimated that he would endeavour to give a finding within seven (lavs.