THE FIRE AT PATUTAHI.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 45, 21 January 1884, Page 2

THE FIRE AT PATUTAHI.

An inquest on the fire at Patutahi, which resulted in the total destruction of the home; stead of Mr. A. Stevens, on the night of the 12th inst., was held in the Schoolroom, Patutahi, on Saturday, before James Booth, Esq.; B.M. Mr. Brassey watched the case On behalf of Mr. S. L. Locke and the Hamburg and Magdeburg Insurance Company, and Mr. Shirar appeared for Mr. Stevens, whilst Sergeant Bullen conducted the inquiry. The following gentlemen comprised the jury:—Messrs. G. L. Sunderland (foreman), John Burgess, T. W. Bilham, J. Canon, W, Gedge, C. Hill, W. Manson, R. Brown, J. D; Harris, F. J. Thompson, J. Sunderland; and A. Douglas. The first witness called was A, Stevens, whd, on being sworn, deposed—l am a settler residing at Patutahi, and remember the 12th instant, I left my residence at about 8.30 on that day with my wife and child. Left no one belonging to the family in the house. I left two men who were in my employ behind, and they had aooese to the house. They were named Payne and Bilham. The house had six rooms, and was built of white pine, with a double chimney. I cannot tell exactly what it cost to build, but I paid over £lOO for timber. I valued the labor at £5O or £6O. I estimate the value of the house at £3OO to £32OX I am insured in the Hamburg and Magdeburg Insurance Office for £2OO, The insurance was effected about three years ago. The policy of insurance has not been assigned to any one. The furniture was insured about three or four months ago in the same office, and the policy assigned to Mr. Butt of the Union Bank as security to a bill-of-sale. He holds both the bill-ot-sale and the policy for an advance of £BO. Ho received the policy last Monday. The house had two or three previous escapes from fire. The last one was about a fortnight previous to the last fire. It then took fire in the shingles. The fire was then extinguished without much damage being done, and only cost a bundle or two of shingles. I did not report that to the agent of the Insurance Company; There was no fire in the front room on the day in question. It is an open fire-place in the front room, and a Colonial oven in the kitchen. On leaving on the 12th I told Payne to look after the place. Before leaving, Mrs. Stevens asked Bayne to cook a joint of meat, There was no time specified. There was some whisky in the parlor, and some in the dining-room. There was a decanter more than half full in the dining-room, and some in the demijohn in the parlor. I estimate my loss at £2OO oa the house and £l5O on the furniture; There has been some furniture saved from the fire, but no bedding. There was a chair, the squab of a sofa, and a table saved; I first heard of the fire on Saturday night; whilst at the Masonic Hotel, in Gisbome. I reported the fire to the agent on Sunday morning, I told my landlord, Mr, Locke, that same night. Cross - examined by Mr, Brassey — I wont into town to take two of Adams' children home, and bring two more out. I did not intend to come out until Monday morning. I do not often go into town and stay until Monday; The two men whom I left both live in the house. It was about 11.80 when I informed Mr. Locke of the fire. He was in bed. I thought he would like to know, as he was interested in the property. Mr, Locke had to pay me a valuation for improvements, tho maximum of which valuation was not to exceed £2oo—viz,, £l5O on the house, and £5O for outside improvements. All I had to get from Mr. Locke was £l5O. I have never seen the policy on the house. I believe Mr. McLean kept it. Mr. Locke advanced me £5O. It was not to pay for any material to build the house. I never told Mr. Locke it was. I did not agree that this policy should ba handed to Mr. Locke as security for that £5O. I gave Mr. McLean a bill as security fer the amount, and believed he held the policy. It will be three years next December since I borrowed the money. On the Sth Heptember, 1881,1 insured the house. I did not know that Mr. Locke had the policy until the other day. I insured the furniture on November 8,1883. The whole of the furniture in this schedule (produced), which I have sworn to, was in the house and was defrayed by the fire, with the exception of the articles I have mentioned. Mr. Butt had security over the furniture and several other things. Ido not know why I asked Mr. Butt to collect the insurance on the house. Mrs. . Stevens valued the furniture. I cannot telK how the fire happened. Bilham said he waM away fishing at the time. Payne told me t. had not the slightest idea of how the fire occurred.

Be-examined by Mr. Sherrar—Mr. McLean put his own value on the house, and Mr. McKay put his own value on the furniture. By the Coroner: Mr. McKay never s>w the furniture that I am aware of. I left it to Mr. McKay. J. Bilham, sworn, deposed—l was in the employment of the last witness on the day in question. Payne was also in the same employ. Saw Mr. Stevens leave the house, with his wife and child, at between 3 and 4 in the afternoon of the 12th. Did not hear Payne instructed to look after the house. I was a chain or so away from the house when they left. Payne was round at the front. I remained in the house until about 8 o’clock, when I left to go fishing at the creek, which is about a quarter of a mile from the house. I and Payne went into the house about half an hour after Mr. Stevens left. We came out and left a small fire on the colonial oven. We went into the house again about five o'clock. Afterwards I came down to the store, and returned about half-past six or seven, and got some meat for bait. I then left the house about 8 o’clock, for tpe purpose of fishing. Payne was left in the house. He asked me if he should cook the beef which was in the house, and I said he could do as he liked. Before I left, I saw some whisky on the dining-room table. Payne and I drank some of it. Payne had two nips to my knowledge. He did not seem the worse for drink. I did not see the fire until all was burnt out. There were some high banks where I was fishing, and also a number of willow-trees. As soon as I noticed the glare I ran up to the house. I saw Mr. Wall and Payne there. The latter had the appearance of having been drinking.

The house jres ell bv*nl down. then. Payne did not teli me anything. I only saw the articles enntunerated laying by. I saw the roof when it was on fire about a fortnight ago. Ido not know whether any furniture had been previously removed. . F; Payne, examined by Sergeant Bullen, deposed—l am a laborer, liviug at Patutahi, and was in the employ of Mr. Stevens on the 12 th of this month; Remembered Mr. and Mrs. 8101*605 and the two Adams children leaving kt about 3 o’clock for town. I and Bilham were the only ones left in the place; I and Bilham had tea in the house about half-past 5 or 6 o'clook. 1 saw some .whisky in the house, and had several drinks of it. Bilham left me about 8 o’clock, to go fishing, t eooked a piece of beef in the colonial oven after he left. I put the meat outside, and then went to the store, which is about a mile kWh? from the house. There was a little fire left ctirhing Bn the oven. There were no long sticks; Oh the way to the store, I met Mr. Wall, who wks running; . fie,said, “The house is on fire I you had better go hack." When we got back, the place at the back pan was all ablaae, Vve saved all we could—a table, writing=deek, w table-cover, (to., and then we had to leave, as " the smoke was getting toe strong. I and Mr, Wall were the first to get to the house. The fire had got through the partition between the kitehen and parlor, The outside wall was not burned through. The kitchen seemed more burned than the other parti I went into the parlor about a quarter of an hour before I left the house. I had been working for about a fortnight at Mr. Stevens’. I was there when the roof took fire a fortnight previous;, Boring .that fortnight I never saw anything taken away from the house; I have no idea how the fire originated; Cross-examined by Mr. Sherrer—The wall which was on fire Is the one which divides the kitchen from the parlor, John Wall of Petutahi, examined by Sergeant Bullen—Remembered the night of the Ikth, when I saw the reflection of a large fire. I ran towards it and met the last witness when about a quarter of a mile from the Sre. We both ran towards the fire, I got there first and saw the roof oh fire by the chimney; The outside wall waa not on fire, but the partition between the rooms inside was, There was a strong wind and the place was soon consumed. There was a table, chair, and sofa cover, Ac., saved. Payne was the worse for drink. Be could not speak plain. Upon Sergeant Bullen stating that this was all the evidence he had to offer the Coroner informed the jury that all the available facta relating to the fire waa now before them, and he did not think they would experience much difficulty in arriving at a verdict. Should they wish to refer to any portion of the evidence his notes were at their service. After a few minutes' consideration the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental fire,"