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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 999, 22 April 1871, Page 2

Resident Magistrate's Court.— No cases yesterday or this morning. A charge of abusive language was to have come before the Court to-day at noon, but was withdrawn.

Napier Musical Society.—lt will be seen by announcement in this even ings Times that the above Society purpose giving a concert in about ten days' time. .

THE LATE EIRE IN GOLDSMITH-ROAD, 1 CORONER'S INQUEST. Asr inquest was held this morning afc the Exchange Hotel, Carlyle-street, before Dr. Hitchings, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, touching the late fire, by which a house in Goldsmith-road, the property of Major Green, was destroyed. The following evidence was adduced :—•

E. Lyster Green, sworn, deposed : I was the owner of the property destroyed by fire on the morning of the 14th inst. I hand in a plan of the buildmg. Myself and family occupy two buildings 30 feet distant froni the one which caught fire, and which was formerly known as the military canteen or the York Hotel, it had not been used as a dwelling-house for two months. A family named Connor lived there previously. Since they left I have used the verandah as a working place, keeping my carpenter's tools inside the building, which pontaine4 seasoned boards. There was no rubbish, and the shavings made were always taken away. The windows were for the most part entire. I intended to re-paper the wall of the building I occupied on the 14th, and had lighted a fire in the next house for the purpose of drying the walls. I lit the fire at about 9 a.m. The chimney was about the height of the plate of the burnt building, distant some 30 feet. It had a revolving cowl on the top. At about 9.45 T went indoors and thought 1 smelt fire, but attributed it to the one which I had lighted. On looking out I saw smoke issuing from the building that was burnt. The fire appeared to have just commenced, and in a few minutes it ppread rapidly. I called Mrs Green and the children to bring some water, and ran myself for a ladder, as I was alarmed for the safety of the adjoining building. I saw that witli the means at my command I would be unable to extinguish the fire I saw a man named Jackson on the hill, about 200 yards off, and called to him several times to come to my assistance, which lie did not do My house was quite detached. I had seen no one about that morning. 1 cannot account for the fire, but suppose that it originated from .sparks emitted from the chimney in the adjoining building, where I had lit the fire in the morning. The materials I used to -make the fire were shavings, white pine, and some broken totara posts. The fireplace was a large open one, and I made a very large fire in it. There was nothing of a combustible nature in the other building. The fire in the burnt building was nearest to the chimney, and sparks from it would be easily communicated to it. The whole block was insured for .£4OO, and the building destroyed for £I OO. The tools, timber, and contents belonging to me were uninsured. On the morning of the tire I had been in the building at 7 o'clock, and found it smell very close and damp, in consequence of which I opened the windows. When I first saw the fire it might have been ignited about twenty minutes. Kichard Jackson, sworn, deposed: I am in the employment of Mr Farrar as dairyman. On the morning of the fire I was ou the hills looking after cattle near Mr Fannin's. I saw smoke rising from the gully where Major Green lived. I went as fast as I could to the hill overlooking the gully, and saw the fire breaking through the roof. I saw Major Green there, and he called me to his assistance, but I did not go as 1 would have been unable to have rendered any assistance, being ill and having a pain in ray back. I saw that the fire was too far advanced to be put out, and the other buildings were safe for the wind was blowing up the gully. I went to the barracks to toll Sergt.-Major Fox and Collins, and met them hurrying to the fire.—The Coroner having commented severely on the conduct of Jackson in not endeavoring to render some assistance, the jury returned the following verdict : " That the building accidently caught tire in consequence of the. contiguity of the chimney of the adjoining building."