FIRE AT THE PILOT STATION.

Southland Times, Issue 1043, 23 October 1868, Page 2

FIRE AT THE PILOT STATION.

By the courtesy of the Commissioner of Police the following report of the investigation into the cause of the late disastrous fire at the Pilot Station has been placed at our disposal : — Police Station, Campbelltown, October 19, 1868. Sergeant Major Chapman . reports that on this date he proceeded to the Pilot Station, at New River Heads, to make enquiry as to the origin of a fire which broke out on the 12tb instant, in the room occupied by "William Rough, boatman, the other rooms in the buiHing were used by Mr Joshua Clare, pilot. Mrs Clare states that at about halfpast 2 p.m. she was sitting in her room and heard Rough go out. In about a quarter of an hour after she saw smoke coming from Rough's room into the room she was in, but having seen a similar occurrence before^ no importance was attached to it then. At 3 p.m. Mrs Clare heard a noise as of a chimney on fire, went outside and saw the room occupied by Rough in flames, she gave the alarm, and Rough, who was sitting in the next house, came .put, got a bucket of water, opened the door of his room, but could not get in, so great was the flame and smoke. He then opened the window at the back and took out his bedding. Mr Clare being at the look-out at the time the alarm was given, hurried down, but was not able to save anything except a few papers. • : William Rough, Boatman, stated that at about 2.30 p.m. on the 12th inst., he went into the quarters occupied by him at the Pilot Station, and saw the saucepan containing his dinner turned over, and the fire put out, he swept the cinders and ashes to the back and went into Dall's house where he remained until the alarm of fire was given by Mrs Clare, he further stated he could not recollecjb whether or not he had been using a match before he left his room. John Dall, Boatman, stated he was having his dinner when the cry of fire was given by Mrs Clare, and went out at once with Rough, but seeing there was no chance of putting out the fire, nor preventing its reaching to the house he occupied (the two houses were only five feet apart) he succeeded in removing a good part of his. property. Both houses were built of wood, iron roofs, lined inside with i-inch boards, and ceilled with calico, the dimensions of the houses were, that used by Mr Clare and Rough 40 x 14, and by Dall, 30 x 15. Mr Clare said that at thetime the fire broke out the wind was strong, and blowing right on the house. The property burned with the buildings has been stated as follows ; viz. : — Joshua Clare — Piano, sewing machine^ nautical instruments, pictures, clothing, bedding, furniture, books, &c, valued from £150 to £200.* John Dall — Clothing, cooking utensils, and some articles of furniture, all valued at £20. : William Rough — Cooking utensils and clothing, to the value of £8 or £10. J. W. Chapman, - Sergeant-Major. T. K. Weldon, Esq;, • • Commissioner of Police: • •