INQUEST ON THE LATE EIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 159, 3 July 1878, Page 2

INQUEST ON THE LATE EIRE.

An inquest was held at the City Council Chamber this afternoon, before Dr Boor the coroner, and a jury, on the fire by which Mr Watkma' house was destroyed. Mr Pitt attended on behalf of the Victoria Insurance Compauy. The jury having visited the scene of the fire, the following witnesses were called :—

John Sharp stated that he was ageat for Mr Watkins. The house was partly lath and plaster and partly wood, and had been ™ OTe ™° yeara ' Ifc untamed fourteen rooms. The reserve price on the whole proparty including two acres of land was £2500 He had charge of the key which opened the glass door on t n « wutero »ide. % I Sal i a

spring lock. There were six doora in all opening to the outside. They were all fastened either by keys, or chains, or both. No one could obtain access to the house without breaking into it. Mrs Sharp was iu the house two days before the fire getting some ferns, and closed the door after her. Witness tried the door and found it locked. On Thursday nighfc Mrs Adams went to witness' house just before the bell rang, and said that Mr Watkins' house was on fire all over. He put the key3 in his pocket and ran down with his son. (In reply to a question from the Coroner, witness stated that none but members of bis own household could have obtained the key.) On arriving at the house he tried to get in at the side door which was open and the glass broken, but the flames were too much for him. He then entered by the front door. The whole of the upper storey appeared to be in flames except at the Western end. About half a dozen people were about. As he entered he saw a man in dark clothes leading, and told him to go to the fire plug to point it out to the Brigade, Assisted by his son and Mr H. Hodgson he got the large picture out of the diuing room. The Brigade thea came, and saved the conservatory and other parts of the building. He wa3 astonished to find that they were able to save anything. By a juror: I caunot say that the man I met made any remark. I was escited at the time and did not think it strange to see some one coming away so early, but I have thought so since. He was walking quietly, ;and did not try to avoid me. By the Coroner: The gas was turned off at the meter when Mi- Walking left, and fche amount of gas consumed marked on the wall, On the Sunday week previous I found the window of the library on the east side open. It was blowing very hard at the time. I went in and closed it, and found the fastener imperfect, so I jammed ifc with a piece of wood. I looked at it the night of the fir e and found it still jammed. The other doo r s were all fast too. By a juror: I don't thiik the house could pe rebuilt for less than £tOQO, at which sum I should have valued it By Mr Pitt: I should have been guided in making my valuation by knowing what it had cost. Albert Henry Frank: I am a confectioner residing in Trafalgar-street. I" was stauding in the street about 150 yards from Mr ; Watkms' bouse on Thursday night when 1 saw the reflection of fire in a. window upstairs in the south west corner, i ran to the I house to give the alarm. Finding the garden gate locked I jumped over it and ran to the side door, which was open. I saw no one about. I believe I wa? the first there I could not get in on account of the heat and i smoke. The staircase was all on fire. I ■ 'hen went round to the front calling " Fire." ! not knowing that tho house was empty. I tried the front door and found it locked. I , then went back to the gate, when I met a j man who returned with me to the house. We tried the front door again and could not unfasten it, so we burst it open. Just then Mr Sharp and his son arrived. I helped to get the picture out. The diuingroom was full of smoke, but there were no flames in it. By a juror : I saw no one about the premises when I went there. There were uo flames in front of the house. H. Hodgson, a clerk in Edwards and Co.'s office was at Mrs Good's boarding house when the alarm of fire was given. Seeing the glare he ran up to Mr Watkins' house, and found several people there. As he went up he could see fire in the south-west corner upstairs, and also at the back of the north-west front room upstairs. He assisted to get out the picture and furniture. Moss Davis : lam agent for the Victoria Insurance Company. Mr Watkins' house was insured in our office for £2000, and the furniture for £500. The furniture was partly sold and removed about five weeks before the fire. It was first insured with us in 1874. Previously to that it had been insured with the National for the same amount. I havo been acquainted with the house for the last fifteen years. I consider £2000 to be the value of the house for insurance. I was aware of the house being empty. This fact does net invalidate the insurance at all. The enquiry was still proceeding when we went to press.