THE LATE FIRE AT OWHAROA.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 139, 30 January 1886, Page 7

THE LATE FIRE AT OWHAROA.

Ox Wednesday, 20th inst., Mr H. Kenrick, R.M., held an inquiry in Messrs J. f Phillips and Sou's store, Owharoa, into the origin of the late fire. The Court sat at 3 p.m. Mr J. A. Miller appeared for the several Insurance Companies interested ; Constable Mitchell conducted the examination of witnesses. The following jury was sworn : W. McConochie (foreman), Thos. Cummings, Jos. Wood, Frea Lipsey, Wra. Farmer, and Walter Davys. Constable Mitchell stated that the real discoverer of the fire, a man named Simms wss in Auckland, although subpoenaed to be in attendance. The following witnesses were examined on oath :— Duncan McLean : Am a miner. Was ; residing on the night of Sunday, Jan. 10th, in the Owharoa Hotel, owned by Jas. H. Walsh. Slept in the hotel that night ; went to bed about 10.80. I was aroused from sleep about 12. 30 by Mr Simms, another boarder, who ran f o my door and told me the hotel was on fire. I ran out of the hotel by the end door, and saw the fire in the back part of the house, the kitchen being already nearly burnt, and the flames rapidly extending towards the front. Simms was in his night shirt when he called me ; lie did not tell me how the fire originated then or since, but merely called out the hotel was on fire. In the house on that night were Elizabeth Castle, servant girl, a little boy named John Garvy, a man servant named Davis, Simms, and myself. The landlord was not at home. Wecould do nothing towards stopping the fire. Nothing was saved $ the hotel being wholly destroyed $ also Hosie's store, Reed's house, and some small huts at the battery. I know nothing respecting the origin of the fire. My belief is that it was accidental. In reply to Mr Miller : I escaped half dressed $ the fire had gained such a hold oa the building that nothing could be got out or saved. Mr Walsh left on Sunday morning* When I went to bed I left Mr Colebrook up ; he was in charge of the hotel. The servant had ! gone to bed ; Colebrook was the only person np when I went to bed. Saw no firs in the kitchen that night. John Davis c Am a general labourer, residing at Owharoa. On the night of the fire I was sleeping in the hotel. I went to bed about 9 o'clock. I was awoke about 12.30 I think, by hearing some one call out the hotel was on fire. On hearing the alarm I opened the bedroom door and looked up the passage towards the front anl saw such was the case. I then closed the door, collected what things I could in the dark andes«d es« caped by the side door ; the flames were then issuing from the front of the house; could not say in what condition the back of the house was. I ran back to try and get my shoes, but during the few minutes I had been absent the flames had so spread as to prevent my doing so. There was no possibility of saving anything I have no knowledge as to how the fire originated. I have no reason whatever to suppose it was other than accidental. There was no sign of any fire in the kitchen that I observed at the time I went to bed. In reply to Mr Miller : I could not say whereabouts the lire started. I should say the fire had been burning some time before we were aroused. In reply to Eis Worship : When I first saw Colebrook after I came out, I think he had his trousers and shirt on, and was assisting to get some of his fnrniture out of the house he had been living in, and which belonged to Mr Reid. Elizabeth Castle : Am a servant £»irl, and was in the employ of Mr Wash on the night of the fire, and slept in the hotel that night, going to bed at 9 o'clock. Was in the hotel kitchen during the evening ; there was no fire there when I went to bed. There had been a fire in the kitchen during the day, and up till 6 o'clock when I put it out. The Colonial oven was used on Sunday, and a fire made under as well as on top of it. Did not notice what condition the brick or wood work was in, in the vicinity of the fire-place. I could not say how the fire broke out. I was aroused in the night and at once got up, and went along the passage towards the back, the kitchen was full of smoke, but I could not see it burning. The b&r-parlour, the bar, and Mrs Walsh's bedroom 'were on fire. The rooms I have mentioned were on the left hand side of the passage, those on the right hand side were not then on fire, viz., the dining 1 and commercial rooms, and five bedrooms. I went into two or three bedrooms aft«r I got np, to look for the little boy who was reported as missing, and am certain there was no fire in any of them then. McLean was was in his bedroom then. lam unable to say whereabouts the fire started. There had been no fire except in the kitchen that day. Ih reply to Mr Miller : The diningroom adjoined the kitchen, the kitchen chimney being between the kitchen and dining-room. Mrs Walsh had not been at home for some weeks j Mr Walsh left home on Sunday morning at 10. I had only been employed at the hotel about a fortnight. If the fire had occurred in the kitchen the dining room would most likely have been one of the first rooms to burn. None of the rooms

on the right of the passage were in flames when I got np. Men were sitting in the bar parlonr during the evening. All the rooms wete well fnjrnished. It was Simms who nrous d mt 1 . I put the kitchen fire out by pouring 1 water over it during the evening, but could not say as to what was under the oven, whether it was quite out or not, it appeared so. Nothing was saved that I know of. George Celebrook : Am a carpenter, residing at Owharoa. Remember the night of the fire ; had then temporary charge of the Owharoa Hotel for Mr Walsh, who had to Thames, and asked me to look after it for him. He returned on the Monday, as I wired him stating what bad occurred. The bar was closed before 10 and the hotel about twenty minntes past ten. Myself, McCean, and Simms were chatting in the bar-parlour up to the time of closing, we had a candle, which was the only light in the nouse that I am aware of All had gone to bed and the house was in darkness when I closed up and left the hotel abouit 10.30. I 9lept at home, about thirty yards distant. It was Simms who roused me ; I ran out and | up to the hotel, but could not get in, as apparently every room was on fire, and there was no chance of saving anything. I should imagine the fire originated at the back, as that part was far the most burnt when I first saw it. Some drapery I and boots were sared from Hosie's store, but could not say to whak extent of value. I saved nearly all my own things. . I can give no opinion as to how the fire originated, and believe it was accidental. la Teply to Mr Miller : Before I left the house I shut the door at the end of .the passage which leads into the kitchen. I left by tne front door, and shut it but did not lock it. James Henry Walsh : Am a licensed publican, and proprietor of the Owharoa Hotel, lately burnt. <U the time of the fire 1 was at the Thames with my wife and family. I left on the Sunday morning and returned on Monday, and found the hotel burnt to the ground. With respect *» the kitchen fireplace, the hearfih was very narrow, only about a brick: wide. I had not noticed anything defective respecting the fireplace. I consider £1600 worth of property was destroyed by the fire, including hotel, stock, linen, furniture, etc. The hotel contained fourteen rooms, which were well furnished. The loss was covered to the extent of £1000, viz., £500 on the hotel in the Norwich Union, £375 on stock and furniture in the Victoria, and £125 in the London and Lancashire on stock, furniture, and linen. I intend re-building the hotel. I can throw no light upon the origin of the fire, and believe it was accidental I aui a heavy loser by the fire, I consider, to the extent of £700 or £800. When I saw Simms he told me he was awakened by the noise in the back part of the house like as if some one was breaking in, and on going down the passage he said he found the back part of the house on fire and the flames coming from towards the kitchen ; he opened the door at the end of the passage. He told me he had a great difficulty in arousing the servant girl, and got her out at the end passage. vSimms is a miner, who has boarded with me for four years. He has gone to Auckland to see about some money due to him, and is coming back here to reside. He wa* in no way whatever connected with the ihotel. Wm. Powell, 6am. Farmer, Simms, and myself sold out a tribute to R. K. Davis, and it is with respect to payment of money in connection therewith that he is now absent. No jewellery was lost by the fire as stated in the paper, And I never stated I had lost any. Between myself and wife I would value our jewellery at £100. I gave Mr Reid £1000 for the goodwill and hotel. The contract price for building the bitel was £900. I brought a good deal of furniture with me from the Thame, and bought other furniture as I went along until all was well furnished. I value the hotel at £900 and the contents at £900. The Jury were then asked by the Coroner if they considered the evidence of Simms was necessary, and replied in the negative. The Foreman stated he and all persons on the Jury were aware the reason of Simms's absence was just as had been stated. The verdict of the Jury was to the effect that there was no evidence as to Low the fire originated. Both the Jury and His Worship expressed the opinion that so far as could be gathered from the evidence adduced the fire appeared to have been accidental.