THE HENUI FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 9, 11 January 1902, Page 2

THE HENUI FIRE.

INQUIRY BEFORE THE CORONER.

Friday, January 10th. —Before Mr R. L. Stanford. S.M. An inquiry into the ciroumatancei of the late fire at the Henui, by whicl the house on the property known t; " The Pities" was destroyed, was hel< at thfl Courthouse on Friday. Th < following jury was c mp moiled - 0. Leppsr (foreman), G. Tiecb, J, R Ohatterton, H. D. Goldwater, W. 13 Bayne, and J. Irvin. Sergeant Haddrell conducted the oesi for the police. Mr. Govett watched the case fo; Mrs. Brown and her family. Mr. F. E. Wilson watched the casi for the owners, Mr. Bauchope watched the case fo; the South British Insurance Company Sergeant Haddrell called Fred Belli inger, being sworn, aai< he was captain of the New Plymoutl Fire Brigade. Remembered the 22nd an alarm being given by the firebel at 3.20 a.m. It took him about eiglv minutes to reach the fire; when he die S3 the buildiDg was completely er. veloped in flames excepting one end From hie experienao of other con flagrations the fire must have beei going three-quarters of an hour to ai hour. It was impossible to form anj opinion as to how the fire originated It was a beautifully calm morning Saw no reflection of the fire in th< (•ky. Knew the property well; last saw it fro* six weeks to two month) before the fire, when be looked at ii with a view to purchasing. The buildwas very old, and he put very little oi no value on it. To tbe Coroner: It was a one-storey buildiDg, but he could not say how many rooms there were. It was a rery long U shaped building. From in experience of 17 years in the Brigade he would s>y that if one of the wings caught it would take a long time ;o work djwn to the othi r wing. The brigade saved the north end. It struck lim as s'range that so much of it was ilight at 019 tlmßi To Sargeant Haddrell: The fire was mt out thoroughly before the brigade eft, about 20 feet by 12 feet of the ild block (tbe houie portion) being uved and thoroughly drenched. I* vas, however, burned down after thn >rigade left. No request was made to eave any of the brigade in charge, and i man was therefore not left. It was possible the remaining portion caught ire from the other portion. Hie men stayed till absut six o'clock. Mr Thompson was on the ground, He understood that Mr. Thompson was responsible, as one of the owners, when witness left. It was quite safe then, and anyone with a bucket of water, of wh'ch there was plenty, could keep it safe. The insurance agent, Mr. Bauohope, informed witness that tie would insist on an inquiry Mr. Thompson was there, and seemed greatly agitated over the fire. To Mr Wilson: Did not go into the buildiog when looking at tbe property. Jessie Brown said she was the widow of the late Major Charles Brown, and had till recently lived at " The Pines " tor many years. There were 18 or 19 rooms. It was only a one-story houst, built of wood, and roofed with corrugated iron. Owing to the death of her late husband the property was cold by the trustees about two monta before she went but. She understood Messrs Weston, Thompson and ELebbell were the purchasers. She gave up possession about half-past 12 on Saturday, the 21st, and the fire took place next morning. A sale of effects was held on the premises on Thursday, most of the goods being taken away before witness left. L'st slept there on the night of Tuesday, 17th. Her son and daughter slept there till the day of leaving. Witness was there on Saturday morning, when she collected some papers belonging to her late husband and packed up a few things, sending them away by an express. She had fires in the kitchen, dining-room, and her bedroom for burning papers. All the fireplaces were open ones. Was certain the fire in her bedroom was quite out 'before she left; the kitchen fire wa* not, and slw was not certain about th< diuing-room. She burned most of thi material in the dining-room because i was the largest fin-place. There w* nothing more solid than paper; then were a few email letter books, but m wood or anything of that sort. Thi kitchen chimney was net damaged b; the removal of the stove. It wai very solid, and witness got a bricklaye to remove the stove. There was no thing to blow about and catch fireafte: they left. There was a very large ac cumulation of \ übbish in the loft am in the workshop, but not in the bud rooms. It was not particularly in flammable, and most of it was burned No pretence was made t j clean out thi place which got very dirty the day o the sale. Tne workshop was at thi south end, there oeing a room betweei it and the kitchen, The workshop wa saved ; could not say what was in it There was some oil; there was a bottli of machine oil but that was destroyed [The jury here intimated their wish tr see the site of the fire. | On the Satur day witness and her daughter wen ! there; her son left about 9 o'clock | when they left it was quite safe as re gards fire; tbe place was left opeo I There were keys to the dairy door, thi front and back doors, and one or twi others. [Mr. Govett here put in i plan of the building.] Then ( was a deduction of '£s from thi purchase money in consequence of i stove and other fittings being givei away by witness. Heard nothing o alleged damage to the property befor'i it was delivered over, amounting ti £SO. Before the property was salJ witoess tore oft' a lot of the branche of fruit trees because they weri blighted. Some were cut off close fo grafting, and the orchard gate wa, smashed by some persons unknown thus letting cows and horses in. Shi pent word about the gate to Mr Govett A lot of puriri posts were stolen from the beach end of the property, and tr avoid further loss she sold some of thi remaining posts ; others were brough up for safe keeping, Witness wisbec to buy the property herself. Had tol< Mrs Thompson, senior, the circum stances, never expecting Mr Thomsoi would be the purchaser. Had neve made use of threats against any pur chaser of the property. Herself am daughter left together on tbe Saturday in question and did not go back. Slep' at Mrs Hodgson's, Gill-street, tha night. Heard a noise like the fire bell in her sleep. Mrs Hodgson woki her and told her of the fire at her lata residence. To Mr Wilson: When wishing ti buy the property she did not estimati the value of the building. „ The jury then proceeded to view thi locus in quo. On resuming at 2 p.m., Mrs. Brown, in reply to a jurymnn

explained the podti6n of the fire* places in the house. Mona Brown, daughter of the last witness, stated that up to 22nd Deoember Wt she had resided at "The Pii After the sale on the 18tt she and her brother had remained in the house till the 21«t. Her brother left the house at 7.30 or 8.0 a.m. on 21st. Witness remained there till about midday, Mrs Biown bang also present. They were finishing psoking. and burning up paper and rubbish about the plxce. They had fires in thr back ki cnen, dining room, and ono bed room. In the latb M»jor Brown's workroom there was a quantity of old iron, broken tool?, etc., with also she believed 6ome oil. When thev left 'here was a fire in the back kitchei fireplace which was smoking, but Sirs Brown placed a tin in front of it. No one representing the owners had appeared when witness and her mother left. Some of the doors and windows, were left open, as there was some furniture left inside. In the evening witne c s was in the neighbourhood, at Mrs Boberts'—about 8 o'clock, opposite " The Fines," bttt did not go on to the property. She stayed at Miss Woods' in Lemon-strtet. Did not hear of the fire till 11 B.m. nest day. Witness had a conversation with Mr Weston about the property on the morning of the sale, the 26th October, as she wished to purchase it. She did not threaten him in any way. He declined to disclose the came of his client. Heard afterwards that Messrs Wes'on and Thompson had bought tLeproperty. About a week after the s*le, the 2nd November, witness went to Mr Thompson at the Bank and asked him "if he wasn't one of the curs that bought Major Brown's property, and turned Mrs Brown out of her home T\ He told her if she had any private business to see him abou", to come after bank hours. Witness made no threats as to what she would do if anything happened to the property. After the sale certain damage was alleged to have Ven done to the property. Witness bad known the property was insured during her father's life. Did not know if it was covered aftef Mrs Brown went oat. Witness knew of so one who would be likely to set the place on fire out of spite.

To Mr Wilson: There was a brokeni tir-oil bottle in the work-room. Oq ! the floor were several old tin", a gcod deal of saw-dust, some shavings, paper, and broken tools, etc. -There were some splashes of oil on the 'wall. Witness had never threatened to do all the harm shecjuld to Mr John Brown because' he wanted to sea the pioperty sold, though she might have said "she. wished him all the .harm she could."! Never said "She lived for but one object, to injure Mr Thompson, Mr Weston, or Mr Butterworth " Never said that "though we were leaving ' The Pines' no one else should ever live there." Witness had no hand in any anonymous letters that may have been written in connection wiih the matter. The cows in the garden belonged to Mrs Brown. The stove was removed after the sale of the furniture.

To Mr Bauchope («gen*. Siuth British Insurance Company): There was nothing of an inflammable nature in any otber part of the house outside of the workroom.

To Mr Govett: Knew that the pur* chastr had arranged to take place at 11 a.m., on 21st ult. - C. W. Govett, solicitor, stattd that " The Pines " was a trust property, and had to be sold on Major Brown's death. 'A deposit was paid the day aft«r the sale, and the purchase was completed on 21st December, in the name of Mr T. S. Wes'oo, the amount being £1550. Mrs Brown pa'd £b to cover damages stated to be done to the proper'y, but the money did not com* out of the fstate. It was settled with Mr,

Wcs'on by Mr Layatd and witness. If t v 'e house was going to be occupied, witness would nothave hcsitatelto insure for £200; but if it were to re main empty, he would not insure at all.

I James Butterworib, general dealer, stated be attended the sale of Mijor Brown's property, being commissioned by Mr Wes'on to purchase on behalf of Messrs Weston and Thompson. Saw Mr Thompson also before the rale. Witness purchas-d the place for £1550. Oa 21st December, witness went up at 3 p.m., tj tbe property, on behalf of Mr Weston, ai Mrs Brown was leaving on that day. When witness got there Mr Thompson was in the house.. They went through the house. Windows and" doors were open, aod there was only one key. Tbey saw unoke coming from one fireplace, but witness did not thing it would hurt, as he thought it was only burnt paper, and quite safe. In tbe adjoining room was a load of rubbish, on the top of which were a number of broken paintoil bottle?, with thick oil all about. Tbe wa'ls were bespattered with oil, looking likn kerosene, to a height of about 2ft. 6in. Witness suggested! that be should nail the place up. Witness adrised Mr Weston "Above all things to get insured, as he never saw a pkca ho ready for a fire." He also suii a couple of police should be put on to watch the place as well. Witness told Mr Weston this in the presence of several men. By " nicely ready for a fife" witness meant the presence of tbe oil-saturated material in the room. The danger he anticipated from outside ; not from the fire-places inside. Witness was at home on tbe Saturday night. When the firebell rang on Sunday morning witness's wife roused him, and he said "Ob, it doesn't matter; it's only BrowiiV Wben the fire brigade came back he asked the men where the fire was, and they replied, "In that place that you bought." Some damage had been done to the property, in witness's opinion to the extent of £SO.

To Mr Govett: There were some pos's round the tennis court, and the wire-netting was nailed in some places to trees. Witness had since ascertained that ths part of the building where the oil and rubbish were was the last to take fire.

To Mr. Bauchope : The value of the building was about .£4OO as it stood. Adam F. Thompson, teller in the Bauk of New Zealand, stated he resided in Devou-streot East-, near " The Pine>." Witnes", in conjunction with' Mr. Weston, purchased " The Pines " in October. When witness saw the workroom on 21st December, it look, d to him as if two or three bottles that had coutained paint or oil had been broken on the rubbish heap. Witnes« did not think there was any immediate danger. He was next at the building about 6 o'olock in the evenings looking round. Was not burning any rubbish about the place. About 3.20 next morning witness was at the house, having been called by a neighbour. The building was then practically all on fire. Witness thought that when the hte occupiers went out the insurance hpsed altogether. The nous ■> was dilapidated outside, but fairly gtodi

inside. Mi'm sion oo«*'"4o"i

ratber abwrive h»gai^b^ : not consider it in any way a. :tjMijßfei|f against him. ... '-iiv-i'-i?' To Mr. Wilson: Then wu u tion to pull down the Itowi sy&lfe-vfc I build. ■■■|-* :^ | To Mr. Bauchope: The fa'mjfi&Ti have started accidentally. H«ftl)wfiE|(j[?p tbe value of the building about MSffmPi £4OO. ' , "1% H. M. Bauchope, agent tyJh#-S South British Insurance *> stated the property had been eMNra by his office, originally for £Mo,<9fa for £4OO, and on the aitmpMxm beta* the fire witness rednetd the anonnl to £2OO. Mr. Weston had asfced, witness ' eo hold the place oovei ed for faia. tß'kw (Mr. Weiton) had bought*. Wifcmt made the reduction to XSOOJon simpiel of the place being unoccupied, bot|hv period was not to exceed one inotitfc. Mr. Wcstoo said it wenld onlf; few temporarily empty, until put in reffrlr. ■Sergeant Haddreg aho gavtsHftnaj of the progrtsf of tie fire, 'V* , 'The Magistrate briefly review*! tfc* evidence. < Xhetnost singula* fljjk, he said, were that the buiMinjf "mm found to be equally stroog'yeiignl** • three different parti sirtiiiltinemisljr. and that Mr Butterworth bid' in* preatad such a decided oonviettOKekal tbe pkee would be burned; dawn. Strange to ear, however, the fgri h»> suspected did not get on 'r*£i si. The insurance agent was to be eofeaUment«d on the manner in whfofc h%niMl lu kwi .ifter his principals' ioteNftott Afttr a short retirement titer jnry returned a verdict that vhe nM;4ra» wilfully caused by some person or parsons unknown. The inquiry doted at 5.5 p.m,'