INQUEST ON THE LATE FIRE IN ONEHUNGA.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 273, 24 November 1870, Page 2

INQUEST ON THE LATE FIRE IN ONEHUNGA.

An enquiry into the cause by which six houses in Queen-street, On <.hunga, were burnt clown, was held before Dr. Philson, Coroner, and a respectable jury (of whom Mr. McMahon was chosen foreman), yesterday afternoon, at the Hibernia Hotel.—On the return of the jury from viewing the ruins, the following evidence was given :—Alfred Gilfillan deposed :On the morning of the 17th instant, about four o'clock, I was aroused from sleep by a cry of " Fire." I called my father, and went acro-s the road. I saw a glare of light proceeding from under'the front-shop window of a house occupied by Mr. Sidey. There was no one in the street. I knocked at the houses and roused the inmates. I then saw Mrs. Sidey with a work-box and clock in her hands, which she asked me to take across to our house. She was'in, her night-dress only. I then assisted in saving the property from the adjoining shop.—ln answer to Mr. Pierce, who appeared for the Insurance Company, witness said he thought if a few buckets of water had been available, the fire might have been extinguished when he first saw it. — James Sidey deposed,: I occupied a house and shop as" a saddler. On Wednesday night I want to , bed before ten o'clock. I was always careful to see that there was no fire about the premises before going to bed. In the shop were the usual articles of my business, and a little straw which was lying near the window. There was a small opening in the boarding underneath the window, the boards having been warped and cracked by the sun. My shop was closed that evening about six o'clock. I did not light a lamp or candle in the shop that night. About four o'clock in the morning my wife woke me. I went downstairs, thinking some one was at the back door. There was no smoke upstairs. I opened the back door first, and then the door into the shop, which was full of flame and smoke. I could not get in far enough to s>ve my books or anything. I went back, shutting the door. I went upstairs and told my wife to save what she could. My stock was not insured. I believe the fire originated in my own shop. Emily .Sidey, wife of the last witness, deposed : I remember the morning of the fire. On the previous night we went to bed before ten o'clock. I went into the shop to see all safe before going to bed ; but did not take a li<dit with me. I was awoke about four o'clock in the morning by a crackling noise. My husband went to see what it 'was, and directly came up saying the shop was on fire. We saved hardly anything. —Olivia Ann McKelyey

deposed: I was living in one af the houses lately burnt—next to Sidey. A], out four o'clock in the morning I was awoke by the cry of fire. On going down stairs, and opening my front door, I saw a glare of fire from the front of Sidey's shop. With help of neighbours I was able to save some of my stock. I was not insured. —George Codlin deposed : I was the owner of five of tihe houses destroyed. I wa« called early in the morning by some one, who told me my houses in Queen-street were on fire. When I got there three of the houses were on nve. It was impossible to make any attempt to extinguish the fire.—The jury returned a verdict that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated.