CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE LATE FIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 24, 28 January 1874, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE LATE FIRE.

, An; inquest washeld at the Masonic Hotel yesterday afternoon on the late fire in Trafalgar-street. . The remains having been viewed by the jury, Flbrenz Basil Joseph, the owner of the building, was'called, who stated tl a the shop was insured in the Norwich Union office for £200. His loss he estimated at from £350 to £400. He was last on the premises at 2 o'clock on Sunday morning. ...About an hour previously he put a shovelful of coals on the fire under the boiler. Everything wassafewhenheleft. He usually left a small fire on Saturday nights so as to keep the water warm for the baths on Sunday morning, He then started for Motueka leaving the side door key with Mr H. Draw. He had looked over the premises since and could form no idea as to the origin of the fire. The chimney appeared on examination to have been slightly faulty in its construction. He first heard of the fire at the Moutere hills.

Henry Drew stated that he , went to Mr Joseph's premises on Sunday morniDg early and let himself in with the key ho had, and bad a bath. There was a little fire in the grate then, and the water was quite warm. Noticing 1 thdto ' were shavings lying near the "'•mouttrof the grate he collected them 1 ahdtlirew theni on the fire. There was -scarcely enough fire to light them, so 'not liking to leave them uncovered, he ■went home and got some matches and set them on fire and watched them burn out* He was there for an hour after- * Wards, and 'looked again at the sfco\e ■before he left when the fire appeared to -be quite out. There was a bag of •eHavmgs near the grate then, and it was there now quite untouched by fire, but saturated by water, which made him doubt whether the fire broke out in f,ha.t "part 'of, the building. ' Henry Bird, cook at. the Masonic .Hotel, heard the crackling of fire about half-past one on Monday morning. He looked out of the window and saw the glare of the fire in Joseph's shop. He tried to put it out with the small house hose. It raust have been half an hour later that the bell rang.

"There being no evidence to show how . thefire or igi bated , the jury returned an open verdict to which was attached the following rider: — "The jury find that some of the fire plugs are not properly marked, and that some are too low, 'especially the one opposite the Masonic ilotel, and trust that means will be taken to remedy the evil forthwith." — John W*. Wigzell, foreman.