THE HIGH STREET FIRE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 459, 3 December 1875, Page 3

THE HIGH STREET FIRE.

The adjourned inquiry into the cause of the late fire, which occurred on the premises of Mr A. W. Wright, High street, on the 22nd ultimo, was held at 2 o'clock yesterday, at the White Hart Hotel, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., coroner. Mr Wynn Williams watched the case for Mr Wright, and Mr Cowlishaw for the Insurance Companies. Mr Buperintendent Harris and the insurance agents were also present.

Inspector Feast conducted the case for the police.

The jury having answered to their names, the following evidence was taken :

Alfred Walter Wright, re-examined, said —There were five different apartments in the premises lately on fire, and four parting walls between Mrs Bowler's house and the shop where the fire took place. There was a cfimmunication between the furniture and fancy goods shop through a door, but all the doors are closed at night time ; but whether this door was closed or not the night of the fire I caunot say. I have taken some trouble over the value of my stock this week, and have received a certificate. I valued my stock at the time of the fire at £2OOO. My stock was a miscellaneous stock. I cannot say what part of the premises the most valuable stock was kept. I could not say whether the cutlery or chair departments would be the most valuable. I only had £BSO insurance on the stock. When I last gave my evidence I mentioned that Messrs Edwards, Bennett, and Co. requested to put £250 insurance on the stock. I am a debtor of that firm to the extent of that amount, and I would like to say that the majority of the goods obtained from that firm are still in bulk untouched on the premises, and the bills drawn for the goods will not fall due until 4th March next. I have not had any business with any JDunedin firm very lately, and have no outstanding accounts there which are yet due. I am indebted to the extent of about £BOO or £9OO for the stock I have on my premises. I say this at a rough guess. Mr Wynn Williams asked permission to put in a certificate of the value of the stock, made by Mr Hawkes. That gentleman had being engaged the previous night until a late houri and had not been able to complete the valuation. Ho far as he had gone, he estimated the value at £1474 lis lid, without touching numerous articles which he (Mr Hawkes) enumerated. He believedthat if the whole of the stock were valued, it would amount to £IBOO, without touching the value of the leases, which he estimated at £IOOO.

Mr Williams also asked why the man Aarons had not been called, as he was instructed that he (Aarons) could contradict the policeman as to the number of the fires, and he was the man who had first seen the fire. He would wish to draw the attention of the coroner and jury to this circumstance. Mr Wright, in answer to a juror, said that a portion of the goods obtained from Edwards, Bennett and Co, were opened out before the fire, and others were in bulk, the whole being on the premises at the time. By a Juror —The value of the leases is not affected by the fire. By the Jury—The gas meter is under the front window of the furniture shop, oh the right hand side as you enter. Ido not ever remember the gas being left alight all night before.

By the wish of Mr Wynn Williams, the coroner noted in evidence the valuation of the stock taken by Mr Hawkes, and also of the value of the leases.

William Harris, superintendent of the fire brigade and chief fire inspector, examined, said —I recollect an alarm of fire on the 22nd November. I attended the alarm, and found the fire was in Mr Wright's furniture shop, High street. There was one fire a little to the left hand side of the door of the furniture department. That fire was on and about some chairs. We found a second one about eight feet in a direct line from the first, and further back of the door. There had been another one about sft to the right

of it, and sft further to the right, but a little more to the back of the shop, there was another fire then smouldering. Both of rhese last fires were on mattrasses—two flax and one hair. In an inner room at the rear of the shop there was another fire. I took these measurements before I left the premises. I was on the premises immediately after the alarm. A greater portion of the fire had been extinguished, but was left smouldering for me to see. There was no communication whatever between the fires. I pointed this out to Mr Wright, and told him I felt it my duty to leave a fireman in charge. Next morning I saw there had been more fires than I observed the night before. I could also trace on a double mattrass six small fires, which I thought was only one the night before, and there had been three in the back room. I could find the six traces distinctly, and there had been six chairs on the top of this mattrass with a fire under each of them. I made an examination of the doors and premises that night, and found one back door open. Mr Wright was with me when I found the door open. That door led into the back yard. I noticed that what was burning was principally straw and paper, with some few pieces of wood amongst it. I took possession of some of the fragments at the time. They are contained in the parcel produced. | The witness here showed to the jury some of the embers taken from each of the fires.] By the Foreman—The back door I have referred to is not in a right-of-way, but leads to Mr Wright's back door. Persons entering by this door would have to get over the fence dividing Mr Wright's from Mr Page's premises. The fence is made of sawn timber, and is between 5 and 6ft high. Vincenzo Almao, called, said—l know the premises occupied by Mr Wright in High street. I recollect a fire taking place there the night of the 22nd November. I visited Mr Wright about nine o'clock that night. T mean I visited him at his private house in Lichfield street, and not at the shop. The private house is a little past Edwards, Bennett's corner. I can't say the distance, but I should think it is about two minutes' walk from the shop where the fire took place. Myself and wife went to Mr Wright's place that night, and Mr Wright was then taking a meal. My wife enquired for Mrs Wright, and Mr Wright said she was in bed and not very well. I did not Bee Mrs Wright that night. Mr Wright said, " I have a chair which I was to have taken to your place last Saturday, and if you will wait I will put it into the cart and drive you home." I did not want him to take that trouble, but he said he would, as he also wanted to wash his horse's legs. I live in Cranmer square. After Mr Wright had finished his meal he drove us home and brought the chair with him. When we arrived at the house I asked h?m to come in, and he did so. He remained perhaps threequarters of an hour or it might be an hour. He then left and had a glass of brandy before leaving. It was 9 o'clock when I went to his house, and he left my house say about a quarter to eleven. I made a remark to Mr Wright that night about not having a kerosene lamp in my house as servants are very careless and I was frightened about a fire ; that was all I said to him about a fire that night. Mr Wright replied something to the effect that I could not be too careful about fire. I did hear the firebcll that night about half an hour or forty minutes after Mr Wright had left. By the Foreman—lt wsuld be about five ©r ten minutes past nine when 1 went to Mr Wright's house that night. John Frile, examined, said—l keep the billiard room at the Dunedin Club, next door to the premises occupied by Mr Wright. I recollect the night o * lie 22nd of last month. 1 slept on the premists next door to where the fire broke out. I went to bed a little after ten, and about three quarters of an hour afterwards I was awoke by a noise, with the shutters in the street, and some persons rattling at my door. I opened my window, and saw some smoke coming round at the back, from Mr Page's yard. Two or three days before the fire Mr Wright put up a shutter right before my wall, to block up a space of about six or eight inches between his wall and that of my premises. He put his shutters standing up. I could see through the two walls before this, and I objected to his doing ho, as I said I liked to see my way clear, as in case of a fire I could see whether there was any danger or not. He said he had put them up, as some windows had been broken every day. I have occupied my premises about three and a half mouths. Mr Wright had been at work an hour or two that day fixing the shutters. The shutter was put up two or three days before the fire, and was put up about eight feet high. Thomas Yates called, said—l keep a boot shop in Colombo street, and recollect the night of 22nd November last. I know the premises occupied by Mr Wright. I was in the vicinity of those premises that night in company with a man named Colman. I was standing at Black's corner, and could see Wright's from where I was standing. I was going home th«n. The time was a quarter past eleven. I had left Oram's hotel at eleven o'clock. I went direct to the corner, and remained there until we heard a rush at Mr Wright's shop door where the fire was. I'd like to state here that my evidence is not worth anything, but I read in the paper about two men being seen standing for some time at Black's corner that night, and some stress seemed to be laid on that. There was a policeman standing at the corner of Lichfield street when we got there.

By the Coroner—l must have been standing at the corner for about ten minutes. Inspector Feast said that was all the evidence he had to bring forward. The room was cleared ty the direction of the Coroner, and after the jury had deliberated for nearly three-quarters of an hour, the following witnesses were sent for at their request and examined : Elizabeth Simmonds—l live as servant with Mr Wright in Lichfield street, and have been about a year and months in his service. We have in the Lichfield street house about six weeks. Before that we lived at the premises in High Btreet, which have lately caught fire. I remember the night of 22nd November last, the night the place in High street took fire. I was at the house in Lichfield street. I recollect Mr Wright coming home to supper that night. I think it was between eight and nine o'clock. I recollect Mr and Mrs Almao coming to the house on same night. Mrs Wright was in bed. Mr Wright left with Mr and Mrs Almoa. He returned a little before eleven. I was not up, but I heard some one come in. I saw Mrs Wright, and spoke to her after Mr Wright left with Mr and Mrs Almao. It was directly afterwards. I went , to bed about half-past ten. There are four I roomi in the Lichfield street house; three

are on the ground floor, and one above. I sleep upstairs. I heard some one come into the house a little before eleven. lam positive of the time, as I looked at the clock before I went to bed. I had not been to sleep. I am sure it was Mr Wright who came in, as he was talking to Mrs Wright. I could not hear what he said. Mrs Wright was in bed at this time. I was in bed when I heard Mr Wright talking. The conversation with Mr Wright did not last long. I heard the fire bell ring about twenty minutes or half an hour after Mr Wright came in. I had not been to sleep before I heard the bell. Mrs Wright came home that night about half-past seven, but it might have been later. There is a good clock in the house, Mr Wright took his supper in the front room. Mrs Wright's bedroom is at the back of the house. There is a passage between the room he took his supper in and Mrs Wright's bedroom. It was I who prepared Mr Wright's supper. Mrs Wright gave me instructions to prepare it. Mrs Wright did not have any supper. She went to bed soon after she got home, and they both came home together. After Mrs Wright gave me instructions to get the supper she went to bed. I had not been to sleep from the time I went to bed until the fire bell rang. Some one came afterwards and rapped at the door. I didn't see who it was, but I heard it was Mr Deßeer. There was no conversation took place between me and Mrs Wright after Mr Wright left. I only went and asked her if she wanted anything. It was about half-past 10 when I went into her room. I did not hear any conversation between Mr and Mrs Wright before he went out. Mrs Wright was awake when I spoke to her, and told me to turn out the gas. I don't think I heard Mr Wright put the horse up when he came home. He came in the front door and went to bed. It would be then about 11 o'clock, and half an hour after I had been in to Mrs Wright. The stable is at the back of the house, and the back door is generally used when coming from the stable' I got up afterthe alarm of fire to lookout of thewindow. Mr Wright had time to go to bed after he came in. I believe he was in bed, but I don't know of my own knowledge that he was. Why I think he was in bed was that I heard him talking, and then the talking ceased, and after I heard the bell it was some time before he went out. Immediately after the fire bell rang some one knocked at the door. I did not go down to see Mrs Wright after the bell rang, and I had no more conversation with her that night. Mrs Wright did not go out after she came in at half-past seven or eight. It couldn't have been much later than that when they came home together. Mrs Wright went to bed immediately, and would be in bed about eight o'clock. lam sure that Mr Wright did not go out until he went out with Mr Almao, but he might have gone out the front door without my knowing, and so could Mrs Wright have done, but I must have heard them going out, and I did not hear anyone go out. I heard the Almaos come in about half-past eight. Mrs Wright had not been very long in bed then and had not gone to sleep. I knew she was not asleep. I know she had not gone to sleep, as I went into the bedroom after the Almaos came in, as she did not feel well.

By the foreman—Mr Wright took the key with him when he went out with the Almaos, and opened the door himself. I heard Mr and Mrs Wright'speaking together after he came in, but the conversation was a whispered one, and I could cot hear what they were saying. This was a short time before the bell rang. The person who came to call Mr Wright Raid whose place was on fire. This was after the fire bell rang I heard him say it was Mr Wright's premises which were on fire. I think Mr Wright was going out at the time. Mr and Mrs Wright came home walking between sevan and eight By Mr Cowlishaw—l am not certain but I think I heard Mr Wright moving before the knock came to the front door. I mean to say I heard Mr and Mrs Wright speak before the knock came to the door. I could not distinguish what they said. The man knocked and Mr Wright went out directly. By the Coroner, at Mr Wright's request— The house was quite silent before the fire bell rang. I think I heard Mr Wright move before the knocking. The keys of the shop were kept in the bedroom lam sure of that, and no one could get at them but Mr or Mrs Wright. Mrs Wright did not see Mrs Almao the time she was at the house.

Inspector Feast, examined, said—l recollect being at the corner of the Central hotel in Gloucester street at eleven o'clock, when that house closed on the night of the 22nd November. I heard the clock strike at the time. I walked direct from there down to my house just across the suspension bridge at the Government buildings. My bouse is in Cambridge terrace, only about half a stone's throw from the bridge. I had just time to pull my boots off when I heard one tingle of the fire bell. I immediately put another pair of boots on and ran over the bridge by the Clareudon, and turned into High street through the square. I went to the scene of the fire, and saw the constable and this man Aarous spoken of and two or three other persons. I think one was Mr Hebdeu. I couldn't say who the others were, but they were putting some fires out. I saw the burning as described by the other witnesses. Shortly afterwards I saw Mr Harris, the fire inspector. He got a lamp, and at our joint suggestion had a look round the premises. As we were going rouud, and through a sort of sliding doorway, I saw Mr Wrigbt going from the furniture into the crockery shop. That was the first time I recollect seeing him that night. 1 told him it looked very awkward. He said he stood to lose £3OOO or £4OOO by it, I forget which amount he mentioned. I asked him if hehadanyideahowithappened,andhe said " Some one must have done it." I left him in eonversation with some one, and Mr Harris and myself pushed on to see the other portions of the building. "We went into No 2 and 3 shops, and found everything regular there. When we got into the third shop, the one nearest Mrs Bowler's, I found the back door, leading into a yard, unfastened. It was neither locked nor bolted, and not fastened at all. It was not jammed up with anything to fasten it. I then turned round, and saw Mr Wright was close on my heels behind me, and he said that his wife usually fastened the door, and must have fastened it that night. We then looked round the yard, and saw a fenee round. There is a door in the fence leading into Page's, but it seemed to be fastened. 1 didn't know it would push open, and didn't examine it at the bottom. I examined it more closely next morning. We looked round, and Mr Wright pointed out a lot of cases, by which a person could easily get over. He also pointed out what seemed tu

be a ladder in Page's yard. I asked Mr I Wright if he had a safe where he kept his books, and he said they were on the table in the front room, which I saw piled up in a heap. We then looked thoroughly over the place, but could see nothing to give us any idea how the fire happened, I was present with Mr Harris when he took charge of the building, and made the measurements. By a Juror—l can't say whether Mr Wright was anxious that an inquiry should be held. I got a notification from Mr Wright to say that he didn't intend to put in a claim, and when I said that it would be better for all parties that an inquiry should be held, a claim was then sent in by him, and he (Mr Wright) then told me ,he would support an inquiry. Christina Kobson, living in Colombo street, called, said—l recollect afire occuring in High street, on Mr Wright's premises, on the 22nd of last month. Mr Wright had delivered some white and gold crockery at my place that night. It would be betwixt eight and nine o'clock. He brought the crockery in his furniture waggon. He was only at my place three or four minutes. He turned from my door towards the City Hotel.

The room was again cleared to allow the jury to consider their verdict.

After about two hours had elapsed the coroner was sent for, when the foreman told him that the jury could not agree to a verdict, nor was there any likelihood of their doing so. The coroner told the jury that he could not discharge them, and they would have to appear before his Honor Judge Johnston at the next criminal sessions to be discharged. The jury were then bound over to appear at the Supreme Court at that time. At the request of the foreman, the coroner sent for Constable Wheatley. The foreman (Mr W. Stringer), addressing the constable, said—By the desire of the jury, I have to commend you for the promptitude you displayed in putting out the fires in Wright's shop, which saved the city from a fearful calamity, and which showed that there exists a villain in our midst who requires to be hunted out. The jury then separated.