THE FIRE AT URUTI SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 183, 5 August 1903, Page 2

THE FIRE AT URUTI SCHOOL

INQUIRY,

A Coeonial inquiry into the cause of the fire which destroyed the Urui school on tbo 15bh July last wai hold at the (Jruti Hill on Tuesday by Mr 0. H. B.owc, J.P., as deputy-Cbronor,! and the following jury: Messrs H. Oxenham (foreman), H. G Crawford, G. 0. Scevanson, A. Jupp, J. Smith, and J. 0. E\Biwoo.l.

Mr Holmes, Clerk of 'he Court l , was prnsent and took down the evidence.

Oanstabe B-->at*.ie conduot'd the inquiry, Mr Q lilliam (Goveot and Quillum) representing the Board. Arthjr Mayenberg, sohoolmastor, dep sed to closing the school shortly after 3.30 on the day in question, and that tht< fire used during the dny was i then quite out, be having poured wati r on tha embetv. On arriving next. morning he f ouni the building burnt down. Picked up a cocoa tin (produced) on the right hand side of the school and found it had a strong smell of kerosene. No kerosene was used at the school to his knowledge. Children brought their dinners and the paper undt-r the school might have b-ien used as wrappers for food, but all papsr was gathered up once or twioe a week and thrown into the gully. Had the fire started in the chimney the wind would i have blown it away from the building. j Could not conceive why anyone should 'set fire to the sahool.

To Mr Q lilliam : Anyone could have effected an entrance at nighs by meant of the windows, which were left slightly open. Considered the fire must have started at the end oppasita to the chimney. Margaret Annie Smith stated she cleinel out the school after it was closed on July 14* h. Had a key and' let bereelf in. There was no fire in the fireplace. Took the ashes ou'side about two or three yards from the p.rchdoor, behind the building. The firewood was left outside the school. She left kindling wood on the hearth ready for next morning, Locked the door when she left. Did not notice the tin proI duced. Had no reason to suspect any one,

Ohas. E. Smich, a lad of 13, said he was at school on the 14th and playing about there, but did not notice any tin. On the following morning he found the school bum I '. Picked up a tin, and thought kerosene had been in it. None of tha boys at the school smoked. George Fascoe, storekeeper, said that when he went to bed between 10 and 10.30 no fire was burning in the locality. Heard nothing unusual during the nigh';. Did not know of any grievance abaut the school. To Mr Q lilliam: Did not remember selling a small quantity of kerosene to anyone since July, wh?n he thought he sold a bottle.

Isiae Aroa, residing about 100 yards from the echoo', stated ha awoke about 5 a.m. on the 15th and saw a -gl ire, and, on getting up, saw the sch tol on fire and nearly burnt out, thfl sides being almost down. Watched for about ten minutes and saw nothing oould be done. Did not see or hear anyone about. It was a calm, frosty I morning. The front of the building was more burnt thin the back, Had never heard of any"grievanoa about the school.

To Mr Quitliam; Three weeks beford the fire he sold a bottle of kerosene. Had not sold any to strangers. Had never heard the sohool wss in the wrong pkoa. George A. Jupp, chairman of the School Committee, sail that he con - sidered the fire started on the east side of the building. The floor of the poroh at the east end wss intaot. Had heard no complaints about the school, To Mr Qailliam: The sohool had been built four years. Since the hall was built two years ago entertainments had been given in the echoM as the hall wns too cold.

The deputy-Ooroner hiving summed up the jury returned the foil 'wing verdict :—" We find that; the sohool was destroyed by fire on July lSub, and th»fc there is no evidence as to the origin of the fire. No Maine can be attached to anyone responsible for the sohool."