THE FATAL FIRE AT WEST EYRETON.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 580, 3 February 1882, Page 2

THE FATAL FIRE AT WEST EYRETON.

On Tuf-;:|jiy tin.; inquest touching the death of "Airs Simpson and her family of six oln'Mnn, burned in their dwelling , house on Monday morning, was held. Henry Simpson deposed—l am a farmer, living at West Eyreton. I lived at the place which the jury have visited. I Wfis tiic husband of Margaret Simpson. Yesterday moring I left between five and six o'clock to go reaping with some other men to a paddock belonging to Mr Robert Dailey, at Swannanon. When I left home I left my wife's brother, Thomas Hanna (thirteen), mv wife, and all my children. (Here the feelings of witness gave way). There were six children. The family were, Margaret Simpson, aged about twenty six; Matilda, seven years ; Thomas John, five and a half ; Sarah, four ; Ann Jane, two and a, half; William James, one and a half, and Henry a baby, three months. When [ left my wife was up out of bed. The children were not out of bed. My wife's brother was up when I left. The house was built of wood. I had breakfast before leaving, and the fire was lit for tea. There were two rooms in the house downstairs and two rooms upstairs. The fireplace was in the room downstairs, used as a kitchen, and the otner room was used as our own bedroom. All the children slept upstairs except the infant and the one next youngest, namely, William James (one and a half years old), who slept in our room. The fireplace in the kitchen was a grate of two standards, with lour bars across it, with an open lireplace. We used manuka wood as fuel, and old stakes ; at all events it was always wood. There was not a high wind blowing when I left home. The wind came from the east. The back door would be facing northwards. The kitchen room was lined with matched boards ; the ceiling was of wood. When I lett home my wife had three cows to milk and the children to dress. The field in which I was working was about seven J miles from my own house. Mr Sellars, one of the permanent way men on the lino, telcl me about the fire about nine o'clock, He said he feared my house was burned, and in consequence of that I put the mare in the cart and started for home directly. There were neighbors there. On the way Mr Frizzell's son told ma the house was down. Arrived at the house I found the house down, and the fire was still burning. Had never observed that when the wind blew into the kitchen sparks were blown about it; in fact a passage from north to south in tho house would prevent the wind going into the kitchen. The house was a comparatively new one, having been erected about two years ago. There was an insurance of £100 on the house and £25 upon the contents.

Alexander McDonald, sergeant of armed police, proved finding , the bodies.

; evemi other witnesses were examined

Tne jury brought in a verdict—'' That Mrs Simpson and lier children met their de.iti jh through the burning of their house, bu! that there is no evidence to show in '.•-■iru jiiitiiicr the fire originated."