INSURANCE CLAIM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 8

INSURANCE CLAIM

WAIROA FREEZING WORKS EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE. I Per Press Association. I GISBORNE, June 25. When the Wairoa Meat Company’s claim for £7(5,850 from the New Zealand and Eagle and Star Insurance Companies, following the destruction of the works by fire after the earthquake in February, entered the seventh day thimorning, Nir W. H. Gummer, architect, Auckland, the principal witness for th*’ defence, continued his evidence, this being the third day on which witness has occupied the box. Under cross-examination, Mr Gummer admitted that some of his photographs had been retouched to demonstrate the cracks, but this had been done solely to explain his evidence, not with the object of emphasising the damage. Some of the damage may have been caused by the fire, but the bulk was due to the ’quake and must have been apparent to anyone looking for damage. H<* would not say that tho managing-direc-tor was not speaking the truth when h<> said that he saw no damage, but he thought that he was unobservant. Witness admitted that the photographs must not be a fair representation of the damage immediately after the fire, be cause subsequent ’quakes had occurred before the photographs were taken. Cross-examined, Gununcr stated thai the cracks in the western wall of the fellmongery were about 25ft. up. He hadn’t examined them from a ladder, but considered they went right through the wall, basing this on the damage elsewhere in the works. From the ground he had no difficulty in distin guishing the fire and quake cracks. William Innes, Wairoa borough electrical engineer, stated that on the day. of the fire there was no pressure in tho\ water mains on either side of the river This closed the case for the defence. Evidence in Rebuttal. Giving evidence in rebuttal, L. A. Litchfield, works shift engineer, put in fragments of metal from the fire, these coming from various parts. Andrew D. Davys, Gisborne, engineer, examined the metal fragments and expressed the opinion that most of the pieces had been subjected to at least 1820 degrees of heat, and one piece to 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. Cross-examined, he said he had not made temperature tests regarding the fusion point of metal. He based his judgment on the standard tables. Witness was emphatic that brass in the fragments was of good quality and with a high fusion point. Reginald Trevor Smith, Public Works District Engineer, Wairoa, stated he had removed the roof above the fellmongery, which would tend to increase earthquake damage, since his experience was that, roofs had a bracing effect. The position might be different when tho ends of tho roof were not tied down to tho walls. Edmund Anscombe, Wellington, architect, stated he had been in tho ’quake area since February and had visited the Wairoa works on March 13. Witness believed the cracks in the tallow department were not serious. Structurally there was no need to rebuild this portion as stated by the witness Gummer, as it stood the ’quake very well. Ho considered that the roof of the fellmongery acted as a brace to the walls in the case of a ’quake. The most damage to the columns was to be expected at tho bases, where it was mopt serious. This was borne out by witness’ experience in the ’quake area. The examintion was proceeding when the Court adjourned till to-morrow.