Official Inquiry.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 143, 16 May 1884, Page 2

Official Inquiry.

The Late Invercargill Fires*

(united press association.) Jnveroargill, May 14. An inquiry was held today into the cause of the fire which destroyed the Theatre Royal, the Provincial Hotel, and other buildings, three weeks ago. Evidence was taken at considerable length, and the jury, after deliberation, returned a verdict that the theatre was wilfully and feloniously set on fin? by some person unknown. A suspicion has existed that a man named Luke O'Brien, who has been prowling about town for some weeks past m a vagrant fashion, might be implicated m the several fires that have occurred. He was convicted of theft of liquor from the hotel while it was on fire, and was again found guilty to-day of stealing the cot m which had been placed the liquor, and also of stealing photos m an alburn from the Supreme Court Hotel. He was seen by several parties at and before the time of the fire m its vicinity, and was the first to ring the bell. He was brought up at the inquest to-day, and was identified and examined. His statements were at variance with those of other witnesses, but the man is said to be weak-minded. The coroner, therefore, said that his statements one way or the other were not to he relied on.