A Peculiar Fire.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 201, 27 September 1888, Page 2

A Peculiar Fire.

THE INQUEST. An inquest into the circumstances connected with the destruction by fire of the building known as the Star Brewery was held in the Courthouse yesterday, before Mr Booth, Coroner. The following jurymen were sworn : —G. R. Moore (foreman), W. Pettie, T. Sweet, W. G. Wat EoD > W. Good, A. J. Cooper. Mr Nolan appeared for the Bank of New South Wales, and Mr Brassey for the Phcenix Insurance Company Sergeant Bullen conducted the examination, and called Adam Knox, laborer, of Te Arai, who deposed that he was the owner of the property burnt. He bought the place a fc auction for about £2BO or £3OO. He was the proprietor, and not merely the nominal proprietor. The price he mentioned included advertising the place for sale. A man named Mooney took charge of the place,, and in consideration was allowed to graze his horses on the section. Paid no other sums for caretaking. Cannot remember whether £4O was the price of the plant. Cannot say that I paid more than £ll5 for the building and freehold. Paid the auctioneer at fall of hammer by cheque. Gave bis own cheque on Bank of New South Wales. Had not got a

banking account there. The Coroner asked how it was he came to give a cheque where there was no account. Witness said the money would be forthcoming. He did not see the manager, but believed his brother did, as he looked after his (witness’s) business., Could not say whether the cheque was cashed. Had told the Court all he knew. His brother was present when he paid the auctioneers. Could not say the property was sold subject to a mortgage to his brother. His brother insured the property for him in the Phcenix office for £350, for twelve months. The policy expired about the 22nd of this month. Gave his brother orders to , pay the premium. Re-paid about £8 odd before the fire. Had received money (£250) on the property from the Bank of New South Wales. Money was deposited to his credit. . Another man received money on his behalf. That man was his brother. Gave, him a

cheque for the amount. Did not receive any of the money. Received no security from his brother. He was acting for himself in these transactions. Sergeant Bullen cautioned the witness as to how he was giving his evidence. Witness, continued : His brother was to repay the money when able. brother met the cheque given to the auctioneer. Had never repaid that amount. By the Coroner: Bought the place on his own account. Did what he could to help his

brother, and assist himself. By Sergeant Bullen : Had no conversation with his brother about the inquest or as to the evidence to be given, t Examination continued: Was m the premises about one o'clock the day before the fire, having a look round to see that all was right. Everything appeared to be right then. Did not look to see if the windows were right as had been the custom. Locked the door after coming out. He had both keys in his possession. Was told on the following morning at Makaraka by S. M. Wilson that the place had been burnt. Saw his brother on that day on the road below Makaraka. Claimed the insurance. Came in town for nothing particular on the day he went into the building. By the Foreman: Got home between three or four o’clock on the afternoon. Was not smoking when in the building. The value of the property he estimated at £630 9s. Could not say if the Insurance agent saw the property before insuring it. By Sergeant Bullen: Could not remember on what date the Bank of N S Wales had advanced the money. It was by his orders the engines were worked, about a fortnight previous to the fire, as he wished to know whether the engines were in good working order. He had given the keys to Mr Sceats.for this purpose ; they were returned to him about ten days before the fire. By Mr Brassey: His brother was in the Ano. tion Mart while the property was being sold ; his brother had nothing whatever to do with the purchase. He could not remember what his bid was. Had made arrangments with his brother to the effect that he (witness) should buy the property and that his brother was to find the purchase money. He had not given any security nor did he get the money for any definite time. The witness said he could not remember who hod paid the auctioneers' commission, and he was not sure in whose name the deeds were drawn out as they were never in his possession.. The cheque was made and signed by himself. The Coroner here cautioned the witness and said he could not allow him to keep on contradicting the statements he had previously made. Mr Brassey also told the witness to be more careful in what he was saying. Witness said that when he bought the property he intended taking a partner and going in for brewing. Witness remembered signing the bill of sale to the bank. Could not pay how much money he had paid out of his own pocket, on account of the brewery. Mr Mooney was caretaker but was not to his knowledge in, side the bulding. R Knox insured the proproperty but he did not know for what amount. Witness drew the mortgage from the Bank to give to his brother. Had given his brother authority to remove a building from the section. He was aware that the building his brother took over the Kaiti was included in the insurance. Got home between 3 and 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 18th. Did not go to the store after supper on the 18th. Could not say what time he went to bed on the 18th instant. Was in bed when the fire was said to have taken place. Got up about five or six o’clock on the mornining of the 19th. It was daylight when he got up on the morning of the 19th. Came into town on the 19th for no particular purpose. There were no matches in the brewery. Had never taken anything away from the brewery since purchasing. If the Insurance Company paid his claim the Bank would get the greater portion, and he would get the rest. Mr Hogg might have understood he was raising the money to assist his brother. By Mr Nolan: The building removed by his brother was insured separately.. Robert Knox, contractor, Kaiti, had a mortgage over the property, when owned by Floak, for £3O, and a bill of sale for £5O. When the property was put in the market his mortgage and bill of sale were not redeemed. The late Mr Bond had also a mortgage of £56.' The property was put up for sale at his instance, and it was sold to Adam Knox, subject to the mortgage. The plant was sold for £6O. He told his brother to bid for it, and fie would fix it up. His brother gave a cheque to the auctioneers, and they handed it to me. Did not think he presented the cheque. At the next sale the building and freehold were also sold to his brother, the price being £ll5. Bond’s mortgage was paid off after the sale. He insured the properly for his brother, a day or two after the sale, in the Phcenix. Mr Croft was the agent. Remembered raising money in March last, on the property, 9“ behalf of his brother. Ahothfer l advance was obtained in August from the bank. Did not know how much he owed his brother. Mr Booth said it appeared that Adam Knox had nothing to do with the property except that his name had l?een used. Witness said the place belonged to hia brother—anybody could understand the transaction.

*Mr Booth : It took three hours to make your brother confess it. Witness explained that that was owing to his brother having no knowledge of the lawyers. Witness continued: He asked Mr Croft on Monday week to reinsure the property. He paid the premiums at his brother’s request. He had the keys of the building at times after the’Sale/tvaW'last in the building about three weeks ago. Went there to .examinq the machinery with Sceats. Heard of the fire that morning at Haiti. G°t up that morning about half past six. Was in toyyn the previous evening. Was up the road as far as Cannon’s. Got home about ten o’clock. By the Foreman: Parted with hie brother at midday on the 18th. Did not think the Insurance agent saw the property. By Mr Brassey: met his brother near the new race couase. Could not say what time is was. His brother went and saw Mr Croft when ho camo to town. Thought it WM a

good deal more than nine o’clock, His brother could not have got back to Makaraka by 12 o'clock. When re-insuring asked Mr Croft to give him another £5O, but he refused. His brother went to the bank and raised the money. Did not know who paid the interest, Believed the Manager of the Bank knew the money was raised for his benefit. He and his brother worked into each other’s hands, as they ought to do. The enquiry was then adjourned to Monday next.