Inquest on the Late Fire.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3111, 6 February 1879, Page 2

Inquest on the Late Fire.

An inquest on the late fire at Karaka Road was held at the old Court-house, Shortland, this morning, before Dr Xil* gour (Coroner) and the following' Jur y:—

B. McDonald Scoit (Foreman), H. MeIlhone, T. W. Gudgeon, E. Honiss, J. Eenshaw, White, A. CJtto, E. T. Douglas, A."Bruce, W.D. Eeed, T. B. Cameron, anc^.J. Baggot. |

Susan Campbell, sworn, deposed—l am a storekeeper lately residing in ELaraka Road. I recollect Sunday;' the 2nd February. *At 10 minutes to 12 I went to bed. I* was* awoke by the heat and a crackling noise. I saw that the shop was in a blaze. I awoke the little girl who slept with me and told her to open the door, and I think I went with her. The flames wer,e then coming into the front room, also black smoke. I took my child in my arms and got outside. I don't remember how I screamed when I got outside. Before any help .came the flameg came out of the'back door. I recollect nothing further, except that I went home to my mother.

By the Coroner—lt is my opinion the fire originated in the. shop. When I went to bed I put out the only lamp burning in my shop. Sometimes the cat finds and kills a rat in the shop. I had some matches on the other side of the shop and some against the partition next to my bedroom. I can't say in what part of the shop the fire originated. I had locked the ddor of the shop. No one could go into the shop, but they could go underneath. The house was on piles I have no enemy that I know of, and, therefore, I could suspect nobody of such an act. The little girl who was in the house with me went to bed before me about half an hour. I waa in the shop after her.

By Sub-Inspector Kenny—l put out the fire in the skellion before I went to bed. It was the only fire 1 had in the house. The only other outer door in the house was in the skellion ; it fastened on inside with a button—it was secured. I had £25 in the house, which I was to pay to an Auckland business man on Monday morning. The property was insured for £250, and I consider it worth £350. Several of my husband's medals were lost.

By the Fsreman—There was kerosene in the shop, next to the partition—two tins. lam insured in the Norwich Union, ami have not been rejected by any other office. The policy of insurance was made out in my own name. I was solicited, and did not seek to insure.

Sarali Jane Donnelly, sworn, deposed— I « as living with Mrs Campbell, sleeping there at night. I was servant for her mother. I went to bed at 11 30 p.m. last Saturday night. After tome time Mrs Campbell awoke me. I jumped out and opened the two doors—the bedroom and kitchen. I saw the flames coming from the shop intp the front room. I turned back to see it Mrs Campbell had the child in her arms, and then I ran out. Mrs Campbell told me to sing out " Fire," which I did. Mrs Campbell did not ask me to save anything. I might hare taken something out with me, but there was not time when I once got out. I went down to the house about half past eight. By the Foreman—Mrs Campbell was, I think, tod excited to think of asking me to save anything. I saw fire before I left the bedroom through chinks in the wall.

By a Juror—The whole shop was in a blaze when I saw it, both front and back.

Andrew Burns, sworn, deposed—l am a baker and grocer, living in the Karaka road. I recollect Saturday evening last. I was at the shop of Mrs Campbell on that night between 11 and 12. When I went in Robt. Long was there, and also Redwood. We left before 12 o'clock. Mrs Campbell put up the-shutters while I was there. Mrs Campbell said she was going to retire about one o'clock. I heard screams, and ran down,to Mrs Campbell's, which was in flames, and also the one adjoining. There were one or two firemen there, but no water was being used. When we left the shop we were under the impression she was shutting, up. I saw the kerosene lamp in the shop, but it was in a safe position. I think there would be close on £200 worth of stock in the shop. I was smoking in the store, but I did not consider there was any danger, as I was outside the counter. Redwood was smoking too. After the fire I picked up 25s of silver-coin, more or less fuaed, and some pieces of gold fused, but I could not tell whether it had been coin or not. I have no reason to believe that the fire was anything else but the result of an accident.

By a juror—l am Mm Campbell's brother. John Nicks, sworn,.'deposed—l reside at Karaka, and am licensee of the Clare* mont'Hotel. I recollect Sunday morning last. About a quarter to one I first heard the alarm of fire from. Mrs Campbell, and when I got out I found Mrs Campbell standing outside the door of her house. I tried to break open the door. Mr Fisher came out of his house, and we both'tried to break in t'<e door, but could not do it. I then ran down the street giving the alarm. The flames were coming out of the front window when I got there first, and the house appeared to be in full blaze. By a Juror —I saw there was no man about at the time. .■>:

Henry Vernon, Agent for the Norwich Union Insurance* Company, sworn,' deposed—lam perfectly satisfied that the fire was accidental, and the Insurance Office is also satisfied, and will pay the insurance money at once. . Sub-Inspector Kenny, sworn, deposed —I hare no reason for believing that'this fire was other than accident..

v The Foreman said that there was a strong feeling in the jury that this inquest was unnecessaiy. Mr Mclllione said that he held entirely the same views as the Foreman. The police had not requested the inquest and he intended to more that the following rider be added to the verdict:— " That in the opinion of this Jury this inquest appears to be uncalled for, and this Jury would respectfully BUggest to the Government the advisability of altering the law as to the system of paying coroners a fixed sum for each inquest."

The Coroner remarked that, the rider was a most insulting one to himself, and one that should be resented by the Jury. The Jury then returned a verdict that they were of opinion that the fire was accidental, but rejected the rider proposed by Mr Mcllhone by seven to five.