THE FIRE IN THAMES STREET.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 69, 11 July 1876, Page 2

THE FIRE IN THAMES STREET.

An official inquiry into the cause of the fire which occurred on Sunday evening on Messrs. Riordan and Ryan's premises, Thames-street, was held this afternoon,.in the Court-house, before the Coroner (Mr. T. W. Parker), and a jury of fifteen. Mr. Frank Dunlop was chosen foreman of the Jury. Sub-Inspector M'Cluskey conducted the prosecution. Mr. O'Meagher watched the case on behalf of the insured—Messrs. Riordan and Ryan; and Mr. * Sumpter for the New Zealand Insurance Company. After the Jury were sworn, they adjourned to the scene of the fire, and on returning, the following evidence was taken :

Constable Moroney, being sworn, said : I recollect last Sunday night. I passed Riordan's shop at ten o'clock, and saw no light on the premises. When near the Commercial I heard an alarm of fire, and returned quickly. I found a crowd in front of the shop. I went inside, and saw Sergeant Carrol there, and was present when he found a kerosene lamp and some rags in a cupboard under the stairs. There was another empty kerosene tin inside the cupboard, and another outside the cupboard, with some kerosene in it. Sergeant Carrol took possession of the rags he found in the cupboard. The cupboard door was open. About twenty minutes elapsed from the time I passed the shop till I returned.

John Miller, deposed : I am a porter, residing at Oamaru. I recollect Sunday night last. I passed down Thames-street, at half-past ten. On getting near Riordan's shop I heard Sergeant Carroll cry out " Fire !" I ran down to Riordan's place, and saw the fire coming from un-

derneath the stairs across the ceiling. -1 broke the door open, and found the fire under the stairs. The gas was not lighted in the shop. I went into an inner room, and then went upstairs, and met two menin theirnightshirts, named Ryan and Loughnan. I went into a room on the left-hand side of the stairs, then through a window on to a lean-to at the back of Riordan's premises, and called out to a man named Moody that Riordan's premises were on fire. The place was full of smoke. I knocked at Moody's window, who lives next door. There was no one on the premises but the two persons I saw. lam quite positive that„the fire when I first saw it was confined to the cupboard under the stairs. When I came down stairs I went to the gas meter to turn it off, and found that the gas was turned off. I told the men on the stairs that the place was on fire, and Ryan said, "Where? where?" and then ran down into the shop. I will swear the meter was turned off when I went to it. If it was on when the fire was extinguished it must have been turned on after.

To a Juryman : I did not give any alarm to the inmates of the shop when I burst the door open. I was not aware anyone was sleeping on the premises. The men I met on the stairs were very excited.

The Foreman : , I had been on the premises before. I was acquainted with the premises. To a Juryman : I saw Mr. Riordan in the shop after I returned from Moody's. He was undressed. Ido not know whether he sleeps on the premises. ~ -- To Mr. O'Meagher : The bedroom window was shut when I went in. One of the men was inside the bedroom door, and the other was on the stairs.

Sergeant Carrol being sworn, said : At half-past ten on Sunday night last I heard some one cry out " fire "in the street. I called Constable Steward, and immediately ran up the street. I noticed a glare of fire in Riordan's shop through the glass door. I went into the middle of the street, and made as much noise as I could, and while I was doing this the last witness burst open the door. When I entered the shop I found that the fire was confined to the cupboard under the stairs. There was no light burning in the shop, except the light from the lire. I went to the station to get assistance and some .buckets. The witness here described the. effects made to extinguish the fire. [Left sitting.]