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FIRE IN THE HUNDRED OF PIRIE.
On Tuesday evening, March 11, a fire occurred
at Mrs. Christie's property. Section No. 344.
Hundred of Pirie, destroying a quantity of
grass, and on Thursday last Mr. C. M. Mudie,
J.P.. held an enquiry on the subject. Mr. H.
B. "Welch was foreman of the Jury.
Mary Christie, widow, said—About 9 on
Tuesday evening last saw a fire in my section.
It bnrned a lot of grass. Have no idea how the
fire originated. Saw some stubble burning on
Tuesday in Sinclair's paddock adjoining, but
did not receive notice from any neighbours that
they were goiDg to burn stubble. Have no sus
picion of any one.
Maxwell Watson, farmer, Pirie, deposed—
Between 4 and 5 p.m. on Tuesday last saw a
fire on Sinclair's form. It was stubble. Did
not see any one present. About 9 30 saw
another fire, and went down to pat it ont. It
was then burning in Mrs. Christie's. About 10
p.m. Michael Wade and two others came to the
fire, bntdidnotseeanyonethereprevionsly. The
fire came from Sinclair's block. There was no
ploughed land between Sinclair's and Section
344. Have never heard any one hold out any
threats towards Mrs. Christie. Think the fire
was the result of accident. There were no
proper precautions taken on Sinclair's farm for
stubble-burning. There was only about a foot
of ploughing round Sinclair's stubble.
Michael Wade, former, Pirie, said—Went to
work at 8 a.m. on Tuesday last. Work for
Sinclair. Went to plough, and lit seme stubble
in the field I was ploughing in the afternoon.
The fire could not get ont of the land I was
ploughing without my knowledge. There wis
about a chain of ploughed land before it could
get to Mrs, Christie's land. Could not see
when the fire got out. of the land I was plough
ing. There was another fire in Sinclair's pad
dock, hut don't know who lit it. My brother
Edward was at work in the same block. Father
toldjne and my brotherto knock off andgo and.
nut the fires oat. .We tried fora little while,'
bnt could not do so.: "We then went and hnrnt
against the fence to keep it from going into, the'
grass in Sinclair's, and then went home. ^Afcont
-6 pm. saw the fire again, when it was burning
in Mrs. Christie's land. Would not be sure
whether there was any one horning stubble in"
Mrs. Christie's land. Never gave any notioe
that I was going to burn stubble.
6. Flowers, H. B. Welch, and J. Wade having
given evidence, which threw no farther bght on
the subject, the following verdict was returned:
—"That there b not sufficient evidence to
prove how the fire originatedand added as a
rider that-Michael Wade's evidence was unsatis
factory.
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