INQUEST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 94, 29 March 1884, Page 2

INQUEST.

(Before Jas. Booth, Esq., R.M.) An inquest’on the late fire which oCCUred in Lowe-street on the morning of Feb. 18, was held in the Court before Jas. Booth, Esq., Coroner, on Thursday afternoon. The following gentlemen composed the jury Messsrs. A. Graham (foreman), J. Whinray, A. J. Cooper, G. Moore, W. S. Ingle, T. Adams, Jas. Erskine, G. Humphries, T. J. Dixon, J. Robb, W. Teat, and W. L. File. E. ff. Ward deposed that Mrs. Ward was the owner of the house, in Lowe Street, which was burnt. Was in Tologa Bay at the time. The house was about 7j years old, and cos*, without kitchen, £550. The kitchen cost £125, and washhouse £35. Valued the property at £BOO. Was insured in the Standard for £550. The house was empty. His brother had been sleeping in the place two or three days before the fire. Last time he (witness) went into the house was on the Friday before the fire, when he left Mrs. Brosnahan there cleansing. The house was valued, by Mr. Finneran, at £7BO. Mrs. Brosnahan was engaged to clean the house, and found a quantity of kerosene spilt on the floor, with cans and bottles lying about. The bottles had some oil in them« They were all taken away and she scrubbed the two front rooms out. There was a stretcher, bed, and blankets in one room. The kerosene smelt very strong in the kitchen. There was no fire lit whatever. Left the house open when she went. L. Humphries, nightwatchman, remembered the night of the 17th ult., and was at Allanach’s corner at twenty minutes to four, and saw no sign of fire at that time. Went from there to Craig’s, and back to Pages’ hotel, when on turning the corner he saw the glare of fire and ran towards it* Was certain it would be impossible for anyone to have called out “ fire ” without his hearing it* Ran down opposite the priest’s house, and saw it was the empty house which was on fire* The flames had a good hold on the front part of the building where they had burst through. Could not see a soul about. Cried out all the while he ran, and made his way to the firebell. Cried out “ fire, fire, fire,” so loud that the Maories Said they heard him across ths river. Had great difficulty in making the bell ring.

F. Moody, brewer, lived on a section which joined the back of the section whereon the fire occurred. Remembered the day before the fire, and went through the section with his wife about four in the afternoon. His attention was attracted to a carpet lying outside the back door of the house. He went in and looked around. His wife remarked on the strong smell of kerosene. The smell appeared to come from a room on the right hand side of the passage. There was a lot of kerosene on the floor which appeared to be very fresh. He remarked to his wife, “this house is doomed.” He never went into the house again. By Mr. Graham—Was awoke by the fire bell. The room where the kerosene was on the floor and walls was a sitting room. The floor apparently had been washed, and the kerosene put oa afterwards. There was a quantity on the wall to the right of the fireplace. Had not told the police as he did not consider it his duty to do so.

E. ff. Ward, re-called, stated that the room in question was the old kitchen, and had been used as a nursery. Had told Mrs Brosnahan not to scrub that room out, as the carpenters were coming. Had not noticed any stains of kerosene on the floor. The walls were match board lined and varnished. Mrs. Brosnahan, recalled—Had not washed that room out. There was no kercin that room or smell of it there. The smell of kerosene was in the kitchen, and not in that room.

Constable Farmer and D. Bourke gave evidence which was immaterial to the issue. H. Gilman lived opposite the burnt house, and on waking ran over to the fire. On going round to the back he found the door open and went in. He saw the flames coming out of a room at the extreme end of the passage on the right (the front room). After a short consultation the jury returned an open verdict.