THE FIRE AT THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PARSONAGE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1721, 5 April 1882, Page 2

THE FIRE AT THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PARSONAGE.

CORONER’S INQUEST. An inquiry into the origin of the fire by which the English Church parsonage was totally destroyed yesterday morn* ing was held before H. A. Stratford, Coroner of the district, at seven o’clock last evening, at the Conrt House, The following gentlemen were empaneled:— J. Pearn (foreman), George' Simmons, sen., W. Wade, Denis Hannan, James Woods, W. Nicholson, R. Toms, A. Flaherty, Fiank Pole, Jean Spiudelev, Alex. Wilson, M. Dracatoa, W. Kirkpatrick. After being sworn, the. jury proceeded to view the site of the fire. On their return to the Court House, the first witness called was John Holland, who, on being sworn, said: lam Incumbent of Holy Trinity Church. I went to bed at twenty minutes to half-past eleven o’clock last night. Before we (Mrs Holland and myself) retired to bed, I saw that the dining-room fire was out. The only other fire alight that night was in the kitchen; that was put out to ray knowledge some time before. About halfpast four this.morning, I woke up and found the whole front of the house on fire. Myself, "Mrs Holland, and the servant were the only persons in the house at the time ; we had just time to escape before the flames took hold of the bedroom. The whole parsonage was destroyed in an hour. It was a wooden building of six rooms, with galvanized-iron . roof. I consider the building was well worth £2OO. I was not aware at the time that the house was insured. I had property in the house valued at £SOO. It "was not insured, and was all destroyed. To jurymen : There were no lamps loft burning in the house when I went to bed. The dining room was the first room on tho left-hand side going in at the front door. The doors were all locked. There is not a vestige of the parsonage left now. David Williams, being sworn, said ; At aliout four o’clock this' morning I awoke, in my ov'U house, which is next the parsonage. I lit my lamp, and retired again, hut did not go to sleep, as I wanted to see a friend off’ by the coach which was leaving fur Christchmch at five o’clock. I turned the lamp down. At about twenty minutes before five, I observed a large quantity of smoke wafting by the window. I looked out, and observed the left-hand front room of Mr Holland’s house one sheet of flame. I immediately raised an alarm of fire, then rushed to the frontdoor of the parsonage, whete I met Constable Nash. I tried the front door; it was open—unlocked. In answer to my call, someone replied “We are all right, at the back.” Nash and I went round to see what we could do at the back, we tried to put down the flames with what water we had at hand, but could not stop the fire. The parsonage was all burned down level to the ground. To a juryman : There was a fire-place in the left hand front loom. I examined it to-day. It seemed to be faulty. The wall-plates seemed to have been built in a very slovenly manner ; they were continued as it seemed rHit through the fire-place, in front of the chimney. John Nash, being sworn, said : I am a constable stationed at TCumara. About twenty minutes to five o'clock this morning I was in Main street near, the Buck’s Head Hotel. I thought I heard some one in the direction of Sedilon street calling “Fire!” I ran down towards the corner. I met the night watchman. I told him I was sure there was a fire. We both ran up Sedilon street, and discovered where it was. When I got opposite the parsonage, I saw it was on fire. On opening the gate I saw the flames in the lefthand front room. I saw no one there, and tried the front door and found ‘it unlocked. I could not enter, the pas-' sage was full of smoke. I tried the window on the right hand. I could not open it. I then went round and met Mr Williams (the last witness); he said the family were all out. At this time the flames had complete hold of the building. I saw nothing could be saved. I passed .the 1 house about ten or fifteen minutes to four, but I.observed no fire then. The parsonage was utterly destroyed by about half-past six o’clock.

, T” j ai yn»an : I went round the building on the left-hand side; it was on that side where the lire was. There was then no fire on the right-hand side. Alfred Sibilton, being sworn said : 1 am a storekeeper residing in Main street. Some twelve months ago the Kev. Mr Scott was authorised to effect an insurance on the Church of England parsonage I believe for £SO, in the Union Insurance' Company, at Christchurch. The value of the building t imagine would be worth £250. I know this because I a m.jthe Minister's churchwarden. I belieye the fireplace in the dining room was built in the way fireplaces usually are here, with stone and gravel at the bottom, bricks at the side, and the top in the usual manner. It was in good repair. To jurymen : It Was the old building that was insured. The portion insured in my opinion was Worth £?0. I can. not say that there was any fault in the construction of the chimney s X never observed any. The Coroner remarked that there was no law point for the jury to consider, they had simply to give a verdict on facts stated. After a few minutes' deliberation the Foreman handed in the following verdict:—“The Church of England parsonage in Seddon street, Knmara, was entirely destroyed by fire on the morning of the 4th of April, but there is no evidence to show how the fire originated.” Ihe Coroner thanked the jurymen for their attendance, and then discharged them.