FIRE AT HAVELOCK.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 515, 7 October 1867, Page 1

FIRE AT HAVELOCK.

THE EXCHANGE HOTEL TOTALLY DESTROYED. The building in the above Township known as the Exchange Hotel was totally destroyed by fire .early on the morning of Thursday last, happily ■no lives were lost, although several persons were asleep on the premises at the time of the discovery of the fire. The following evidence as to the details was taken at an inquest field before f. llilehings, Esq., Coroner, on the following dav :

i Tnomas Reynolds, bring sworn, deposed ; 1 was the proprietor of the Exchange Hotel, Havelock. lOn Thursday morning, between 2 and d o’clock, j.l heard men calling out “ F.re 1 Reynolds, get ■ up!” I was sleeping on the ground floor, adjoining the kitchen. On waking, I saw the under ! part of the third lloor in ablaze. I called the imen to come down stairs, and went out and called j“ Fire.” I got my wile out, and saved all I jcould. Three persons slept in my house that night. They went to tied about 12 o’clock. (There were two tires burning when I went to bed —one iu the tap-room and one in the kitchen, (These fires are usual. My lungers go to bed with (candles.- There was a kerosiue lamp in the parlour, which I put oat. The tire began on the (second story, w here the lodgers slept. I kept no (combustible matter iu the house ; the kerosiue (was kept iu an adjoining outhouse. I went to Bed with perfect satisfaction that everything was (safe. I was insured in all—furniture, stock, (building and stabling—for £1,475. £205 wort!;, (including stable, forage, saddlery, carpenters’ (tools, Ac., were savea. I was insured in the North Eritish Insurance, and I consider myself a loser bs tlie tire.

John Turner, being sworn, deposed : I am a labourer; I was living with Mr Reymolds. 1 went to bed on the 2nd hist, at about 1 o'clock. I was woke up by a suffocating smoke, about 3 a,in. Mr Ferret slept in the room with me, and I called him. We slept in an upper story. I saw the nre apparently all round, particularly towards the back. I can offer no opinion as to the origin of the lire. Mr Reynolds kept all dangerously combustible matters in an outhouse 20 yards from the house,. I was obliged to make my escape through the window. Mr Hicks slept in an adjoining room, and was awoke by our talking'-.

The jury returned as their verdict, “That there was nn evidence to prove the origin of the fire.”