FIRE AT WAIROA.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 71, 27 March 1901, Page 2

FIRE AT WAIROA.

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

Wairoa, last night. The township had a narrow escape on Friday night of a disastrous conflagration. At about 9.80 smoke was seen to be issuing under the door of the workshop of Mr J. E.i Whiting, tailor. Soon after flames were seen. The door was broken in, and two bags of charcoal were seen to be blazing. No - one lived on the premises. Had the fire smouldered for a few hours longer nothing could have saved the block. Whiting was vacating tho premises next evening. It is stated he has not twopence on the stock. The police ascertained that there was TIOO insuranco on the stock, which was very low. The matter was reported to the authorities, and an inquiry was held last night before Mr Britrell, Acting-Coroner. Nothing was elicited to connect any person with the fire. The evidence showed that W. T. Briggs, agent of tho North British and Mercantile, had 4100 in his name on Whiting’s stock, which he supplied. He admitted in his evidence that it might bo worth 440, aud to the police ho said £25. All that was in the shop for TIOO insuranco was three coats, two vests, a pair of pants, three pieces of tweed, lining, buttons, and a time-payment machine, on which £8 was due. The jury found that there was no evidence to prove how the fire originated, and severely censured Briggs for not seeing that the stock was kept to tho amount of the policy. They considered bis evidence most unsatisfactory.