THE WELLINGTON FIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8046, 1 November 1906, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON FIRE.

THE INQUIRY. * SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. (Bv Tei.eoraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The tii e inquiry was resumed yesterday. The chief evidence was that of John Morris Schapiro, trading as John Morris. He said he was in business in Tory-street, and about tfiree years ago he was in partnership with Aronstein and Syinmeloff, in the Wellington Auctioneering Company (this is the place where the fire is supposed to have originated). Asked by the Inspector of Police why he left the Company, witness said, " Because Diederich, after Symmeloff left, made a very improper Suggestion to me. He said, ' Let's stock the place and get a 4eavy insurance on it. It's an old •wooden place and it would not take veiy much to make it blaze. I baid. ! PI! have nothing to do with this.' " Bernard Diederick was recalled and gave an absolute denial to the above. The manager of the South British Insurance Company, which had a risk of £OOO on the stock, said the policy would have expired on October 26th (the tire occurred on October 22nd). The Company had not issued a renewal notice as from an examination of the stcck he had decided to decline the ri.sk. Witness considered £3OO was the outside amount of the stuck. A storemau employed by the Auctioneering Company estimated the stock tit the time of the tire at 45900,

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