THE LATE FERE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4579, 23 November 1875, Page 2

THE LATE FERE.

An inquiry into the origin of the late fire in Mr. Gorton's premises, Cuba-street, was held before Dr. Johnson, coroner, and a jury, in the Victoria Hotel, Abel Smith-street, at 2 o’clock yesterday. Mr. Quick appeared on behalf of the Insurance Companies. Mr. Stafford watched the proceedings on behalf of Mr. Garton. The foreman having been elected in the person of Mr. Charles Campbell, the jury were sworn in, and then retired to review the remains of the building which was burned on Thursday last. The inspection being over, Harry Smith was called, and, being sworn, deposed : lam a chimney sweep. I remember the fire taking place on the 18th inst. at Mr. Garten's premises. My attention was called to the affair at about twenty minutes past two o’clock, when I gave the alarm. I smelt fire, having got up to have a smoke. I live in Cuba-street. I went outside, and saw the smoke coming from Carton’s shop. I saw nobody. I shouted out fire, and then knocked up Garton. I did not find any difficulty in rousing him. He came out dressed in coat and waistcoat five minutes after I began to knock. Garton appeared flurried. On coming out the first thing he did was to go to the front door of the shop, exclaiming “ Oh, my poor horse !” I did not see whether he had a key with him. I then lost sight of Garton. I ran into my own house to get my children and sweeping gear out. Next time I saw him I heard Garton say he had got his horse out. He was standing at the corner. The Constabulary were there by that time. The horse was kept in the back. The horse was got out, I believe ; but I did not see it. That is all I know about it. The fire seemed to originate over the shelf over the front door of the shop. That was where the flames seemed to spread from. By the smell, I should say it was flannel that was burning, I did not smell kerosene. I do not know who first got into the house. By Mr. Stafford ; I should say it was about five minutes from the time that I called, that Garton came down. I could not swear that Garton had a waistcoat on. I know he had a coat on. He might have been loosely dressed. I told him to look sharp and get the horse out. Garton was driven back by the smoke when he tried to get in at the door. By a Juror : The shop was perfectly dark when first I saw it. X could see nothing but smoke. I saw no light till I reached Garton’s, when the flames appeared to proceed from the shelf over the door.

By a Juror : I had to knock several times at Mr. Carton’s residence before he answered. He appeared very much excited, but ran as fast as lie could to the door of the shop, just inside which the hose was kept. By the Coroner: When Carton arrived at the shop door, the smoke in my opinion, was sufficiently powerful to drive a man back. _ Peter Garrick deposed : I am a shipwright and live in Abel Smith-street, next door to Mr. Garton’s shop. On the morning of the fire I was asleep. A cry of fire awoke me, and on getting up I saw the reflection of a fire. On arriving at the door I saw a man, who said “ Our front shop is on fire.” It was not Mr. Gartou who spoke. He asked me fora bucket of water, the fire at that time just breaking through the roof. I dare say my door may have been open that morning. I never lock it. The wind often blows it open, and that organgrinder chap, living with me, cranes home at all hours. My house is insured but not my personal effects. I don’t know any more. Nobody lived in tbe shop, which was usually closed about seven o’clock. Mr. Garton asked me next day whether it was a Mr. Godber, with specks on, that said the fire was in his shop. I said, “ I don’t know whether he had specks or eyes.” By a Juror : The man who said, “ The fire is in our front shop,” was dressed and did not appear to have got up from his bed in a hurry. Robert Orr deposed ; I live in Abel Smithstreet, the sixth house from Garton’s shop, which was burnt on Thursday last. Early in the morning—l think between two and three o’clock—l passed by the shop and saw no signs of fire, and smelt nothing to indicate there was one. About half an hour afterwards I heard a shriek, and got up to see the cause. I looked out of my window and saw a glare, and on going out to see the direction of the fire, discovered that it was in Mr. Garton’s shop. I saw Mr. Garton going towards the fire. He was walking. He was accompanied by a man about his own height. It was useless to attempt to do anything towards saving the building, upon which the fire had got a good hold.

By Mr. Stafford : I ana sure it was not an hour after I passed the shop that I heard the shriek. I was quite capable to judge, because I did not go to sleep after going to bed. X had been at a wedding party, and indulged in the festivities very much. I was certainly in a fit state to judge of the time, seeing that I had only half a glass of beer during the whole day.

Edward Garton deposed r I am a general storekeeper, residing in Abel Smith-street. X had a shop in Cuba-street, which was burnt down on Thursday last, and which is the subject of tbis inquest. I left the shop on Wednesday evening last at about half-past eight o’clock. I was the last to leave the shop, mid before leaving I turned off the gas at the meter. AVe had used no light that evening but the gas. There is no fireplace in the building. I had lighted no fire in the shop in any way that evening. I used no fire. I left the shop with Mrs. Garton ; I did not return to the shop. After going down town, I returned to my residence at about a quarter to ten o’clock, and retired to bed before half-past o’clock. I was first aroused at about half-past two, by someone knocking at my shutters, and calling out that my shop was on fire. I called out from a side window for one of my shopmen to go to the fire, and I then dressed and went over to the shop. I tried toget in at the front door but could not, owing to the smoke which drove me back. I had the key with me, but could not get near the door. I managed to get the horse out of the stable, with the assistance of one or two others. The horse was only scorched slightly. By this time the Armed Constabulary were playing water on the bunding. I pointed out to the captain of the Wellington Fire Brigade the spot where the kerosene was stored, so that he might play upon that part to prevent the kerosene exploding. There were seven cases, containing fifty-six gallons. The cases were already on fire, but the water soon extingushed it, and the kerosene did not explode. X saved nothing from the premises but the horse.

By Mr. Quick : The goods were insured for £I4OO, East September X renewed the policy in the Norwich Union for £4OO, and in the same month insured in the Standard for £6OO, making £IOOO, On the sth or 6th of this month I told Mr. Smith, jun., of the Norwich Union office, that I had already spoken to Mr, Wilcox that I should like to take a further insurance for £4OO, at the same time I told him that I had insured in the Standard for £6OO. I took the last two policies to cover the drapery and boots and shoes, which I had removed from my store in Abel Smith-street. At this point of the evidence Mr. Quick said Mr. Garton had not renewed the policy of £4OO, but had made application for a fresh one. He produced the application, and stated that Mr. Garton was only insured for £BOO at the time he made that application. Mr. Garton said he had been insured for £3OO, but increased it £IOO, and was morally convinced that he had renewed the policy for £4OO instead of making a fresh application, as stated. After some further questioning on the part of Mr. Quick, Mr. Gartonweuttohis house and presented the documents representing the renewal of the old policy, and the new one for which he had made application to Mr. Smith, jun. [ Mr. Stafford : Then you jumped from an insurance of £3OO to £I4OO within the space of five months ? Mr. Garton answered in the affirmative. The Coroner : But Mr. Garton did so because he had within that time concentrated the trade of two shops into one. Examination by Mr. Quick continued : The lease of the premises had to run seven years. The building was about ten years old. It was insured for £2OO. I am required to put up a new building. The original insurance was £l5O, but in consequence of the additions I had made I was granted an extra £SO. It was my custom to take away the books each night, because I had no safe to keep them at the store, and have one at home. I was not in the habit of going to the store at night. I remember going there about a fortnight ago for a bottle of chlorodine, being unwell. I was not at the shop early on the morning of Monday, the 15th inst. The goods insured originally tor £3OO were groceries, tinware, and such like. [The witness was then examined as to his other shop; and, in answer to a query as to the value of the goods in the shop burnt down, he submitted a statement of particulars which he had made out for the purpose, stating that if it was desirable be could produce invoices for aE the goods marked down. He also produced salesmens books. Examination continued: I can form no opinion as to the origin of the fire, further than that it probably was caused by the rats getting amongst the vestas which were kept on the shelf in the front shop. The rats bad repeatedly knocked things down from the shelf, bottles of oil having been broken by that means. There were about eight dozen paper boxes containing matches, and one dozen tea boxes. The matches were kept just so that we could put our hands upon them when wanted. No one but myself has access to the building after business hours. I kept the only key by which access could be gained. The time I mentioned was the only time I visited the store late at night during the last six months, and so far as I can remember, never before. By Mr. Stafford; When I had the interview with Mr. Smith, jun., I showed him my stock, and told him I had insured in the Standard Company for £6OO. The lease of the budding contained a covenant that the lessee should insure the building for £l5O. Previous to the fire I had increased my stock. I had received £470 worth from an Auckland firm, and goods to the extent of £l4O from a Melbourne firm, whilst I have kept my stock constantly replenished by purchases in tbis town. Charles Wilcox Smith deposed that he was a clerk in his father’s office. His father was agent for the Norwich Insurance Company. Remembered Mr. Garton calling him into his shop the early part of the mouth. He said he wanted an insurance for £4OO. He was already insured in their office for £3OO. He told witness he was insured in the Standard for £6OO. He took witness over the shop, and showed him the stock. The shop looked well stocked. I am not a judge as to whether it would represent £I4OO. I thought it rather high. The insurance was effected. I know nothing of the value of drapery. Air. Stafford : But you took the premium nevertheless. Mr. Smith further stated that the agent of the company had seen the shop, and had a general idea of the stock thereof. John Jamieson deposed that he was a compositor, working at the New Zealand Times office. The character of his business required him to go home at aU hours. On Monday, the 15th instant, he was returning home from work, between 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning. He passed just opposite Garton’s late shop. Saw a man cross the street and go into that shop—the one burnt on Thursday last. I do not know who the man was. I did not see him open the door ; it was rather dark. The man was a little man, with no coat on. He disappeared in the doorway. By Mr. Quick : Was the man about Mr. Garton’s height ? Witness ; Yes; about that height. Formed no opinion upon the subject at the time further than that the object was a man. There was a lamp opposite the doorway. I saw the man stop at the doorway. He knew Mr. Garton by sight, but could not say that the man he saw enter the shop was he. From the position witness occupied, the man could not go up the street, he vanished through the doorway. James Godber, a storeman, at Mr. Garton’s, deposed that he had been employed in the shop which was burnt on Thursday last. Was in the shop at about half-past seven on Wednesday evening last. I left Mr. Garton in the shop. A customer was there also—but of this witness would not be sure. Saw no fire used all that day, except when witness lighted the gas. Mr. Gaiton always locked up himself, and took the key home. Witness could not then enter the shop, and had never been in the shop after leaving work in the evening. Witness lived in Tory-street, and was awakened by the fivebeU. By Mr. Stafford : Had been in Mr. Garton’s employ about two months. The place

was full of stock. Was surprised to see so jpuch stock in the place when he came there. He had thought he was coming to what you call a twopenny-halfpenny drapery. Mr. Gavton did a good business which required a full stock. William Bowden deposed that he was a draper’s assistant, in the employ of Mr. Garton. Had been in his employ between six and seven months. He could offer no suggestion as to the origin of the fire. Left the shop on Thursday at about five minutes to eight, leavin'* Mr. and Mrs. Garton there. Witness had been in the shop on one occasion during the night. That was about three months ago, when he went for a hammer. By Mr. Stafford ; Mr. Garton has a heavy stock. When he first took over the stock six months ago, it was taken at from £BOO to £9OO, and at the time of the fire the stock had increased by £SOO. He should roughly estimate the value of the stock at £I4OO. This was all the evidence, and after brief consultation the jury, through the foreman, announced the following verdict “ That there was no evidence to show the cause of the fire.” ...