The Late Fire.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3426, 15 December 1879, Page 2

The Late Fire.

COKOJSER'S INQUEST.

A. coroner's enquiry into the circumstances attending the Me fire in Central Pollen street was held at the Juuction Hotel at 11 o'clock today before Dr Kiigour. Coroner, and the following jury: —Messrs G. Harcourfc (foreman), James Cook, J. C. Williams, F. Ashmau, W. D Reid. M. Whitehead, A. Butler* J. Finlay, J. Leydon, Butterworth, Crocker and a. Hawkes. Mr Alex. Hume was present on behalf of the Building Society, and Mr Buttle for the Boyal Insurance Company. The Coroner said the inquest had originated from a report to him by the police. William - Adcoclr, sworn, deposed—l am a butcher, residing in PolUn street. I recollect Wednesday last. About £ o'clock in the morning.of that day I: heard my dog howling, and my wife Mid , " it's fire, William." I jumped out of bed and on looking out of the window, I sew a fire burning close to. I ran outside, and found the fire was burning through the roof of Mr Brien's house, three doors from my own. I knocked at Brien t door. I heard Miss Brisn call to her mother " come oat of it." and I knew they were safe. At this time theywere oat attiM bsek. I tken mw Mr Wood,

who requested me to ring the firebell. I ran to tbe bell, but could cot find" the rope, so I came back to get ray children out. My little boy rang the bell while I got some wet blankets on to my house. By this time help had arrived, and I went and dressed myself. When I first noticed the fire it was burning through the centre of the roof. I did not see Miss Brien, I only heard her. I assisted in petting Mr Wood's things out. By Mr Kenny—l heard no one call out fire or givo any alarm at ail. Mr Wood was not at the back when I first went to Brien's, I know. Mr Brien's stock constated largely of mining tools and second hand furniture. 1 saw no remains of the stock when I visited the >cene of the fire next morning, 'lhere was no chimney near where I saw the fire. There was one house*between Brieu's and mine.

By tlte Foreman.—Kp one came out of ;he front door.

By the Jury—l am sure Miss Brien was outside when I heard her voice. I did not know anything was saved from Brien's till next morning, when tome boxes were shown me orer MeClair'* fence. By Mr Brien—l came- out of my premises by tbe Irobt. I did not tee any bed* in your shop. ' .;: ; Sergeant Mulville, sworn, deposed—l recollect the morning of Wednesday last. I waa on duty in Pollen street. I passed Brien's shop about two o'clock. : I met ; tlie ConiUble on duty cear .Richmond street, who accompanied me to Shortland, and when we got opposite the Shortla'nd Hotel and turned round we saw the ml are of the tirX We immediately ran back, till we got to the Shortland firebell, and Constable Haslett rang the bell. When we got to the scene of the fire Brien's place was all in a blaze and Wood's burning. I assisted in protecting property brought from Wood's, and, then went to look for the inmates of Brien's place. I found. Mrs Brien in a house at the back, and Miss Brien in the garden; I asked her the particulars of the fire. She tbH me that she was asleep with her mother in the back bedroom, and that she waa awakenqd by hearing a noise in the shop. The noise was of something falling from the ceiling. She jumped up and saw the pluce was on (ire, the flames coming orer the top of the partition. She. could see the roof of the building was on fire. . She then pulled her mother out, and aired her bed • and bedding and some boxes. She then ram towards Wood's house and screamed out fire for. ,the .purpose of waking up Wood. She saw no one about nor heard no alarm. She showed me the boxes which were in a garden near where she was standing.' She said she was assisted in saving them by two young men named Gentles and a man - named-Swindles living near. One of the boxes which she opened contained articles carelessly thrown in, and "ttie others principally linen and- a change of cloth* ingBy the jury—When I saw them, Mrs i. and Miss Brien were dressed. The boxes were lying close together. William Wood, junr., sworn,, deposed —I am a fruiterer, residing in Pollen street. I recollect. Wednesday last; I was awakened by Miss Brien calling " fire! " I looked out of the window and ' saw the roof in a blase. The flames came from the centre. I went to Adcock's and hammered *t, their front door*; .. Mr Adcock came to the froat oW " himself, almost directly. He was not dressed. I asked him taring the firebell while I returned and got some things oat. I sared some of my stock till the fire got tco hot and I had to desist. I believe if the brigade had got the water on asqaiek as I hare seen them sometimes they would have saved my building. I wm not in Brien's a week before the fir*.? I was the first out. By the jury—l saw something tared at the back of Brien's on the inside of the fence, I saw none ou the other sHe. My house was insured, but not my ft/tods, the house in the Norwich Union for £50.

Miss June Brien,. sworn, deposed— with uay parents in Pollen street in the premises lately burnt I' recollect the morning of 10th. I was sleeping with my mother io the back room and was awoke by a noise, and on looking np, I saw the flames breaking through the roof. I got out of bed as quick as I could and screamed fire, two or three times. I then went into the yard and threw stones at Mr Wood's, as I could not get into .hit yard. Shortly after Mr Swindles came and pulled the fence down between Cook's and our house. I then took my mother into McCliar's garden. I then saw Mr Gentles, Bad he helped me with the boxes. I had taken the two boxes from the kitchen into the yard, where Mr Geptles found them, another box, with hats in it, was saved. Nothing was tared from the shop. Onij some badelothing was saved besides the boxes. My ntother . Wed the bed-clothes. I did not dress myself till after I got over into McClair's. \ ' JBy Mr Xenny: The fire came from the front. I closed the shop at' 9 o'clock., I turned out tho gas. I first saw the fire from tho furniture part of the thop.No one went into the shop with a light after I closed it. There was one wooden bos of matches in the shop. There were mining tools in the shop. They hare , since been found. They were placed in the little house that was saved. I heard no one knocking to rouse uf up. The two boxes were in their usual condition. Mr ,

Brien was in Auckland he left on Saturday night, my mother was the Ust to pat the li«ht out, there was no light burning in the house, and 1 can gi*e no idea fit £he cause of the fire. We would only escape from the back by breaking down the fence. By the Jury—No, I did not smell any I gas. I did not see Mr Ad«xk or Woods. I remember calling out to mother " Coke out of that, mother," when she went ia to try and get the money. There were some bed-ticks in the shop. My father's arms were in the outhouse and his clothes in the house. The Volunteer clothes were tared, but the Fire Brigade uniform was burnt. I don't know who burst the door open. John Gentles deposed to being present at an early stage of the fire. With the aid of his brother, he had lifted the boxes orer MeClair's fence. :

Detective Farrell deposed to inspecting the contents of the boxes. They wen chiefly clothes all neatly packed. James Brien deposed that he wa« insured for £175 in the Hoyal, tad had been for eight months. He ralued his slock at £70 or £80, and premises at £130. ■ « - . After considering the evident^the Jury returned an open rerdiefc. , ;. „' -.•■'■-.