THE INQUEST.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 55, 2 September 1895, Page 3

THE INQUEST.

(Per Press Association). Haweua, September 1. At the inquest into the cirenmstances attending the death of the victims of the fire, on Saturday, Campbell, manager of Smith's drapery store, in which the fare originated, stated be was stocktaking at about 11.30 on Friday night. He was working in one of the windows when a lamp fell only a short distance away, but the shop appeared to be in a blaze in four or five seconds. He did everything possible to give the alarm to the hotel portion of which he ran. There were four lamps in the shop and all appeared to go out when the one which fell exploded. He made bis escape by the back way and ran round to Kelly's hotel. His assistant (Jewell) was then in the street calling fire. There should have been about £3100 worth of stock on the premises. Jewell was not drunk but had had a glass or two. Jewell was closer to the lamp that exploded than witness, but did not think he could have rendered any more assistance in putting the fire out. Jewell was not drunk nor sober, and was able to stand and measure. The lamp fell through the board on which it was placed coming away, and witness believed the board must have been defective. They were working late that night owing to Jewell not attending regularly to his work, as the stocktaking should have been finished Bjme time before. Jewell had been out to the po=«t office three or four times that night. On one occasion witness dragged him back from Kelly's hotel. Asked Jewell not to drink in oraer to heep him in his billet. Had no notion the lamp was in danger of falling before the fire. Did not remember a young man named Dunn telling witness Jewell was not in a fit state to work. Jewell depposed that when the lamp fell he was rolliog flannel. The window was at once ablaze, and Campbell called j out to give the alarm, which he did He did not see the lamp fall. Witness j could not get into the window, therefore he made no effort to put out the fire. He gave the alarm to the hotel, and, on his return to the shop the fire had such a hold tnat he could do nothing to save property. He denied being drunk. J. W. Kelly, proprietor of the Egmont Hotel, gave evidence as to Caverhiil and Tourner being lodgers at his hotel on Thursday evening. Both kucw the house well. There was a drop of 2ft Gin from the window of the room in which Caverhill slept on to the lantern roof of the billiard room, and from the position | in which Caverhill was found, he must i have jumped through and fallen into the billiard room and beeu killed. The jury returned a verdict that the deaths were caused through accidental fire and added a rider urging that more stringent precautions should be taken into hotels for the protection of life and property and that the brigade should be better equipped. (PSB PBESS ASSOCIATION) Haweea, This Day. The funeral of the victims of the lire took place yesterday. Subscriptions are being raised for the family of the late Mr Caverhill.