THE GREAT FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 45, 19 February 1864, Page 6

THE GREAT FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

(From the Telegraph.) An inquest, in order, if possible, to ascertain the origin of the late destructive fire in Stafford-street, was instituted by the G*ov eminent at the request of several insurance agents, and was held on Friday afternoon in the Union Hotel, Stafford-street. Mr. Inspector Morton conducted the investigation. When the jury had been sworn in, the Coroner (Dr. Hocken) said they had assembled to hold an inquest on the late fire, and it was always very proper that a judicial investigation should be made in every case where any arson or incendiarism was suspected. In the present case ho did not believe that it was suspected that this had been the case, aud he believed they would find their labors to be very light indeed, and that it would be a ipere matter of form. The following evidence was then taken : — - Constable Burley — I observed the smoke of the late fire on the 2nd inst. About half-past seven iv the evening ol' the 2nd instant I was about half Avay in the right-of-way between Watson's and the, JEvening Star printing office, and I saw smoke issuing from tlie roof of a building next to Mr. Mills's, the gunsmith in Staffordstreet. I ran to the barrack to give the alarm. The smoke I observed was irom the roof of the back part of the house, and near where the back door was. I met Sergeant Grennan and a body of police running towards the fire, and we returned. I made my way into a building, the one which was on fire. I assisted in taking out the property of the building until the roof fell in. Gilbert Percy — I am Sub-Inspector of- police, stationed in Dunedin. On the night of the fire, about half-past seven o'clock, I was in the Imperial Hotel, Princes-street, and heard an alarm of fire. I proceeded to the Police Camp. On arriving there I heard that the senior Sergeant had marched off all available men on the station to the fire. I then proceeded to the lire, and when I arrived, I saw Mr. Mills' house in flames. The Fire Brigade had arrived by that time, and I saw the police engaged in various duties at the fire. I proceeded with the senior sergeant and broke open the doors of Mr. Casper's store, and I encouraged the crowd to carry the property out of the store. I sent down to the Police Camp for some axes, and succeeded hi getting down a house called the Temperance Hotel. I then proceeded to the rear of the fire where it was leading towards Walker-street, and gave instructions to the crowd and police there, until I was joined by Captain Eees of the Fire Brigade. When the fire was checked in that quarter it was about half-past twelve or one o'clock, andlthenwent round to see | Avhere my men were stationed. I ascertained that Mr. Morton, Inspector of Police, had drawn off a number of them to watch property — about thirteen were engaged in this duty. A number of night - duty policemen in plain clothes, and others, were on the ground giving assistance. Many of these even I might not recognise in plain clothes, and the public could not. I did not see any of them drunk. At that time I sent away about half a dozen men to protect other parts of the town. I remained at the fire until about halfpast four in the . morning, at wliich time, all immediate danger was over, when I left it in charge of the Sergeant. I cannot give any information * as to the origin of the fire. * Henry Albert Holmes — I was storeman to H. and J. Hart at the time of the fire. I have been in their employeight years next August, and during that time I possessed their confidence. The contents of the store were-^ale, porter, port, sherry, all sorts of groceries, a few cases of matches, and a large quantity of sugar. The wine and matches were up-stairs, except one case of matches, which was in the cellar below.- Those upstairs were about the centre of the building. There were two "doors in the house — one, the front ,to StaflQrd-street, and

the other $ie back cellar- dooi% opening into the > right-of-way > Between? our store and Mr. Casper's -Bond.. - There was -no fire place in the /building, ' arid no 'fire had ever been lighted in it, either by myself or any member of the firm. I visited the store about half-, past six o'clock on the evening of, /the fire. 'I had '. been at . tlie, crickest ground, with, a young, man, named G-irdwood. • I told him I /was going into the store for two invoices, and asked him to ;>vait, He left me/V I entered 'the store/by ;ffie front: 7 dpor r and found everything /right! ;I left the store immediately /I had obtained the invoices/passing out by-thel¥ront door, : which I locked. Outside/the door I spoke to Mrs. Mills, about ' twenty minutes to seveii o'clock. I had been in the habit of "waiting the store every. evening I was in town, to have, a look in to. see /.-if everything -was right. , -On week ..days *:W*e ; closed the' store at six in the evening/ and eaxiier on Saturdays. I will not swear that I visited the , store, onee 7 weekly after six . o'clock. 1./ did not know to what goods the two invoices I have spoken referred. They were enclosed in a sealed envelope, and I had no business to open it. : I knew they were invoices, because Mr. Hart told me so. The same clay Mr. Hart gave me a bundle of invoices, with instruc--tions to deliver them. These two were among the number, and tney were all in envelopes. I delivered one to Millar Brothers, one to. Keenan, one. to "Whittingham Brothers, Patterson and M'Leod, Eastgate and Hudson, and a great many others. I took the bundle in my coat pocket about , ten minutes to one* o!elock, and after, delivering them all except the two I have mentioned, I went to the cricket ground, where I again left at a quar-ter-past six o'clock. I separated these two invoices from the bundle because I could deliver them on my way home in the evening. They were to Hyam Hart, in the Arcarde, and Isaacs, the druggist, in Maclagganstreet. I now mean to state thateach invoice had its own envelope. I delivered the two invoices alluded to on my way to the fire. I knew there was a fire because I heard the fire-bell, and I saw the smoke. I thought it proceeded from Princes-street. My reason for not having delivered the invoices on my way home, was because I forgot to do so. I delivered the one to Mr. Isaac's little son, in the street, with instructions to deliver it to his father. This is not the usual manner of delivering invoices, and I never did so before. My reason why I handed it to the child in this manner was because I was excited, and I did not wish to stop. I ] could not have delivered them the following morning, bnt I had promised my employers to do so that day. When I was running through the Arcade, I delivered Mr. Hart's invoice to Mrs. Bloom, standing at, I believe, Mr. Hart's shop door. I have been several times at Mr. Hart's shop. Mr. Hart's premises which were burned down were, as near as I can say, insured for £20C0. Only three persons were engaged working in our store, namely — Mr. Henry Hart, Mr. Levy, and myself. By the Coroner — I put these two invoices into my pocket along with the rest, about one o'clock on the day of the fire, and I went round delivering them, and then I went straight down to the cricket ground, not returning till half-past six o'clock. Before going to the cricket ground I delivered the last invoice at Thomas Brown and Co.'s and I then threw the remaining two into our store, so that I might have something to call my attention to look in at the store in the evening. My only reason for going back to the store was to get these invoices. I "did not keep them in my pocket because I might have lost or soiled them. It ■ was about one hour from the time I i left the store till I heard the fire bell. ! There were a few cases of kerosene in the store, situated at each end. There was nothing fermenting in the store — no damp blankets or cloth of any sort. By a Juror — Prom all I hear the fire must have originated in the case of matches in tlie middle of the store. None of them were loose. They were all in a zinc case. There were plenty of rats about the premises. I had always possession of the keys of the store. By the Coroner — I used a candle to go down to the cellar in the forenoon of the same day to get out a case, but when I went back Ihad no occasion to light a match. By a Juror — When I went back to the store I was not smoking. There was none ofthe kerosene leaking that I saw. I should say the value of the stock was about £7000 or £8000. I had no interest whatever in the stock or the property. Catherine Bloom —My husband keeps a shop in the Arcade and is in partnership with Mr. Hyam Hart. On the night of the fire I did not receive a document from any person. I know the young, man you point out. He was storeman with Mr. Hart./ On the night previous to {the fire I did not receive a document nor the night after. That man (Holmes, last- witness) did not hand any document to me on the night of the fire. I did see Mr. Hart on, the night of the fire, /but to my know-, ledge I did not see Holmes (last witness). I remember the night ofthe fire perfectly well. I was never near* Stafford-street on the occasion. I heard* the fire-bell and the noise of the peo- J ple going to the fire. .1 was in my I husband's store in tbe Arcade at thel time. a Mr. Henry Holmes, recalled — Thej person alluded to in my deposition :'■ Mrs.'/ Bloom. . fl '• Mr. Itfsjsecipr Morton here said,' al

.the inquiry might take a serious turn, he would ask for an adjournment. It would be impossible to take all the evidence that afternoon. The Jurymen were then bound' in their recognizances, and the inquest was adjourned until Thursday afternoon, when, after a lengthened examination of witnesses, the following ver- ' diet was returned : — " The Jury find that a certain extensive fire did ' take place in Stafford and Hope-streets, on' the evening of the 2nd instant, but how that fire originated they are unable to J say." They also added the following I rider : — " The Jurors are of opinion j that no blame attaches to Henry Albert ! Holmes, the storeman to Messrs/ J. and H. Hart." " " ' ■ i