LOCAL NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 102, 30 March 1863, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Fibe Ixquest. —On Saturday last, an inquiry as to the cause of the late fire at the Victoria Hotel, Onepoto, -was held at the Royal Hotel, before T. Hitchings, Esq., coroner. The following evidence was elicited : —Joseph Michael McGrath, sworn : I have been in the employ of Mr. Campbell, the keeper of the Victoria Hotel, Onepoto. I was in the house up to 11 a.m. on Sunday last, the 22nd ; I then left the house, and left Mr. Campbell in charge ; returned at 3 p.m. I was then left in charge ; Mr. Campbell went away on a horse. I remained in the house until 7or 8 p.m. I then locked the house and left it, in consequence of some drunken soldiers being about. I left no one in the house. I have left the house vacant on previous occasions on Sundays. I returned at 9-30. William North and Campbell Wiley accompanied me in. They wanted a glass of grog, which I gave them. In consequence of Mr. Campbells absence I requested them to stay and keep me company. They did so until 3 o’clock in the morning. There were four glasses of grog drank during this time. The two men then left the house towards home : I could hear them talking for some distance. I then shut the door and went to bod. I slept in my usual bedroom. I was not smoking ; I blew out the candle before I got into bed. After 20 minutes I was awoke from sleep by a noise which I mistook for an earthquake. I jumped out of bed and found the passage full of smoke and blaze. I then, after first throwing a box out of the window, jumped out myself in my shirt. The jumper and trousers I now have on were in the box and went out with it. I then ran to Mr. Harrington's and gave the alarm. I then returned and saw the bar and the store all in a blaze; I cannot say whether the room I had been sleeping in had at that time caught fire. In 20 minutes the whole house was in ashes. We had been in the parlor all the night. I did not once enter the back part of the house in bar. The only fire in the house that day was out by 11 a.ra. I heard during the whole night nothing except dogs barking, and on going out saw no lights. lam not interested in the business, but am a hired servant. The box I threw out contained <£s 10s. in money (silver) and sundry pieces of paper, of the nature of which I am not aware. Thomas Campbell and another witness were then examined, but nothing further was proved, and the Jury returned the following verdict“ From the evidence adduced the Jury is unable to assign any reason as the cause of the fire at the Victoria Hotel, Onepoto, Napier.”