THE LATE FIRE.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 318, 23 July 1898, Page 3

THE LATE FIRE.

THE INQUEST. A judicial enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the origin of the late fire in Victoria-street, Hamilton, was held before the coroner (Mr Thomas Uresnum) and a jury of six at the Courthouse, Hamilton, yesterday afternoon. The followiug gentlemen composed the jury : Messrs 1). Salmon, J. S. Bond, E. Wilson, J no. Bettley, Wm. Gribble, and K. Kinloch. Mr J. S. Bond was chosen foreman. Mr Shepherd, of Auckiaud, represented the Auckiaud Underwriters' Association. Detective Madden appeared on behalf of the police. The first witness called was Mary Ann Qualtrough, wife of Thos. Qualtrouch, of Hamilton, who deposed,: About half-past nine on the 16th inst. I went to th? front door of my house, adjoining Mr Scott's premises, to let out a lady friend who had been spending the evening with me, I saw a light in Scott's baziar or fancy goods room,' which faces our place, but I had no idea that it was a tire. I took no notice of the light, thinking that Mrs Scott was tidying up ready for Monday morning. I went inside, and within five minutes there was an alarm of fire. I immediately went oiit with my husband. By that time the light was much brighter than when I had seen it previously. Frederick Charles Davis, platelayer, of Hamilton, deposed : I remember Saturday night, the 16th inst. Abouta quarter to ten on that evening I was in Victoria-street, near Mr Scott's shop, in company with a man named Hermann Papeseh. There seemed to be a kind of a fog about.underneath the verandah in Victoria-ttreet, and my attention was called to it. On reaching the shop I smelt smoke, and paper burning. I could sec a small light in the place, but did not know the cause of the smoke. It was a one-storey building. The light I saw from the front of the shop appeared to emanate from the middle room, and I went round to the side and then saw the light throngh the window. I saw the place was on fire, and called Mr Qualtrough. At this time there were no signs of fire outside the building. I have no hesitation in saying that the fire was within. I broke the side window nearest the street with a clothes-prop, and then ran to Mr Qualtrough's house for a bucket of water. I went round the front way, but could not get in the frout door, which by this time had been burst open, on account of the smoke. I passed the bucket in through the window. By the time I arrived with the bucket a lot of people were there. I believe if the proper appliances had been at hand the fire could easily have been suppressed. Hermann Papesch, railway ganger of Morrinsville, corroborated the evidence of the former witness. He also said : On discovering the fire I raised the alarm and attempted to break in the front door, but as a crowd had collected I gave way to those who knew more about the place. Thos. Qualtrough, butcher, of Hamilton, s iid : About half-past nine on Saturday last I left my shop to go home, and a few minutes afterwards [ was informed of the fire by Davis. I saw the glare in Scott's fancy goods room. In my opinion the fire commenced inside the building. Davis was with me when I got to the building. I suggested that we should break the window and spill water in through it. It was very dark, and it took some time to find the buckets. When we threw the water through the window the tire slackened for a short time. I noticed no smell of kerosene or paraffin. Tuts smoke had an ordinary Emell. I saw nothing of Mr Scott at the commencement of the fire. The place was pretty well destroyed before I Baw any of the Scott family. I know of no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire. Eveline Hay, of Hamilton East, said : I was assistant in the shop of Mr Scott. The usual hour of closing on Saturday evening is 9 o'clock, but it is usually a little later. Mr Scott did not assist in the shop ; he had nothing to do with it, but he went round with the goods in a cart. He was on the premises on Saturday. I saw him there after tea. The kerosene was kept in a storeroom at the back, hut there was none there that day. They got a tin there that day, but could not open it and it was taken down to the house. Mrs Scott told me in the afternoon there was no kerosene left. When I filled the lamp on the previous Saturday the tin was nearly empty. 1 saw Mr Scott in the shop about halfpast six. He came into the front shop, and remained until closiug time. I had not been at the shop at all that week until Saturday as my mother was ill. We had a good many customers in the shop on Saturday evening. I have knowu Mr and Mrs Scott about three months, but was engaged in the shop with Mr Spedding before Mr Scott came there. The lights were in exactly the same place as when Mr Spedding had the shop. I was with Mr Speddiug for about six months. Ho did a fairly good business, and Mr Scott's trade was much about tne same. There were a few Chinese lanterns hanging in the bazaar, but they were not near the lights. About nine o'clock I put out the lamp and one of the jets in the showroom and also the threo in the window. I am certain the light in the lamp was extinguished. I remained on the premises for nearly twenty minutes after that. This left one jet burning in the showroom and one in the shop. Mr Scott put these out; he was putting out the jet in the showroom when I left. I am sure the showroom jet was out when I left, but the one in the shop was burning. 1 left Mr and Mrs Scott in the shop at twenty minutes past nine. I noticed the time at Mr Howden's street clock. I have frequently left Mr and Mrs Scott In the shop together. The Scott family consisted of three—George, Willie and Madge. George, the eldest, was not at ahe shop on Saturday. By the Police: I did not hear the alarm of fire until after I got home. By Mr Shepherd : I was there when Mr Scott took over the shop from Mr Spedding. They took stock and made out stock sheets. I saw the stock sheets ; but I have no idea as to the value of the stock, which consisted of glassware and woollen goods. There was a considerable amount of woollen goods. I have no idea of their value. I did not hear wdiat Mr Scott paid for the stock. Mr Scott took away woollen goods and drapery from the shop to sell. I nearly alwayssnw the goods being put into the cart. I assisted in making up what was required on the trip. Just previous to my leaving the shop, I was using the knitting machine. I got the wool from the back of the shop and used a candle to get it. It was necessary to use a candle to see to knit. We got the candles that day. I had never used a candle before. I got the candle to wind the wool in the back room—the storeroom—to wind the wool. I lit a match at a gas jet in the showroom and lit the candle from that. 1 put the match in the candlestick. I was only in the storeroom a few minutes. It was past eight when I lit the candle. When I took the candle out of the packet I l«ft the balance on the table in the showroom. Mrs Scott send me to buy the cundlos, as she knew I would require one in the back room. I had only done knitting on one or two occasions before and then the wool was wound. I was not present when the kerosene was bought. It was got during the afternoon ; but sent down to the house because it could not be opened. By the Coroner : It is quite possible that Mrs Scott had trimmed the lamp sitice I last did so. By Mr Shepherd : I have been in jjlr Scott's house. They use both gas and kerosene there. The knitting machine

was saved and show case of cheap jewellery also. Mr Scott did not usually stay in the shop on Saturday night, and he had never put out the lights before when I was thorc. I generally put the whole lot out. I would have put them out on Saturday night only Mr Scotb told me I could go, as it was late. 1 was there ten minutes later than usual. I had been there later on previous occasions and had always put out the lights. Mr Scott did not say on Saturday that he would put out the lights. When the first lights were extinguished by me, Mrs Henry and MiMitchell were in the shop. On Saturday morning, I remember now, Mr Scott did come to the shop. He brought the cart there about 9 o'clock. He went to Frankton to sell goods, but took nothing out of the stcok. I did not notice any difference in the look of the shelves after being away from the shop I do, not know whether the stock had decreased or increased. Mr Spedding was in Hamilton about two weeks ago. I saw him in the shop a fortnight ago on Saturday evening. I do not know what was the object of his visit. Several cases of goods came up to the shop after Mr Scott took possession. VVe generally got a parcel of woollen goods from Mr Spedding every week during the three months Mr Scott occupied the shop. When Spedding's sale took place some of the goods were removed—one large case and, I think, a small one. .The big case was about 4ft. by 2ft., and 18iu. in depthThe goods were taken away by Mr Spedding. Among the goods were a lot of leather hand-bags and a lot of stockings, but no other woollen goods. I helped to get the goods from the shelves. Mr .Spedding packed the cases. They were unsaleable goods that were not required in this district. Mr Spedding has taken goods away siDce then. He took some last time he was here. These also were unsaleable. On this occasion he took another large case of goods, mostly woollen. Some of it was wool and the remainder was knitted articles. Some of them were valuable and were too good for Hamilton. About a month after Air Scott came here he took a sma'.l tin trunk of wool and woollen goods to Auckland. These are the only occasions on which goods were sent away. Mrs Scott gave me 10s worth of change each morning, and the takiugs each day would not be more than two or three pounds. Wm. Spedding said : I have knowu Mr Scott for eight or nine years, Previous to gurchasing my business he was working as a miner at Huntly. I was last in Hamilton on the 25th or 26th of June. I sold my business to Mr Scott at the end of March, and he took possession on April Ist. I sold him the whole of the stock with a few exceptions, aud these were to be sold on commission. The stock was valued at £33S. Mr Scott paid me £IOO down and another i'loo the last time I was up. The balance (£1.38) is still owing, with the exception of the value of some goods which were selected on June 26th to be returned. The value cf the goods to be returned amounted to £l6 odd. Since the Ist of April I have seen Mr Scott. He was in Auckland about the beginning of June. He came down to fit up a horse and cart for travelling and to take back some goods supplied by me. 1 sent him a parcel of goods once or twice a week. The value of the goods sent since April Ist would amount, I should think, to somewhere between £BO and £IOO. Mr Scott now owes me about £l7O or £IBO. Mr Scott's weekly takings averaged about £7, which was a fair one for the season. The £l6 worth of goods I took back were principally woollen ; with the exception of about 10s worth they were all woollen goods. The goods I took on the first of ApriUwere principally woollen. Mr Scott expressed him self as satisfied with the shop, but not with the cart business. The goods valued at £338 were insured in my name in the Standard office. The interest in the policy was not transferred from me to him. The question of the insurance was discussed at the time of the negotiations for the purchase of the business, but the transfer was not mentioned. The balance of the purchase money was to be paid in three months, subject to the deduction for goods returned, so that the whole of the balance should have been paid on June 30th. After the second £IOO had been paid about £122 or £123 was due, in addition to the goods to r.e sold on commission, and £4O or £SO for fresh goods supplied on June 26th. I allowed Mr Scott another three months to pay for the stock, as the understanding at first had been that he was not to pay for any goods that were unsaleable. I also agreed to allow him to return unsaleable goods up to £IOO within three months, so that in reality only £7O was in question. The stock was not of a very inflammable nature. The' goods that Scott took over were insured for £4OO, made up as sollows: £370 on general stock ; £l6 10s on bicycles, and £l3 10s on knitting machine. Assuming that the insurance is paid in full, I shall pay Mr Scott about £l5O ; but he is not really entitled to it. I have known Mr Scott some eight or nine years. By Detective Madden : I insured the stock in the city of Auckland in July, 1893. I do not know if the Standard Insurance Company had, at that time, a resident agent in Hamilton. I cannot say whether anyone inspected my stock at the time of the insurance. I fancy Mr Knox did. By Detective Madden : I can say that no one did inspect the stock. Continued : I cannot say if my stock was inspected, and 1 cannot say whether the insurance has increased or diminished since 1893. 1 believe it is the same. I have not put in my proof of loss. I never intimated to the Standard Insurance Company that I had less than £4OO worth of stock in my shop. My claim against the company will not be for much less than £4OO as it is. The stock has been increased since the Ist of April to the extent of £SO or £6O. The amount paid by Scott to go into the business was £338. The stock has be°.n increased by £6O. The weekly taking was about £7, so that in 15 weeks the sales amounted to £lO5. The stock I left to be sold on commission consisted of books and bicycles ; they are included I believe in the £370 insurance on general stock. [A copy of the stock sheets taken at the time of the sale was here put in]. The value of the stock was nude up as follows :—Stock, £338 17s ; goods on sale or return, £l2 ; fresh stock sent up, £BO ; goods purchased from various travellers by Mrs Scott, not from me, £2o—total, £450 17s—less sales, £sß——l7 s. From this has to be deducted £l6, value of goods taken away by me. When I was here in June, Mrs Scott wished to return about £BO worth of stock ; but 1 gave her another three months to choose the unsaleable articles. Witness added in reference to the insurance : At the time I insured mv stock for £4OO it was worth £SOO, "it has gradually been reduced since then.. By Mr Shepherd : I arrived at the value of £338 17s, at cost price, with some reductions There was nothing asked or paid for goodwill. When I returned to Auckland, I took some goods with me, woollen goods for the most part. They were not included in the £338. I notified the Standard Insurance Company by conversation with Mr Shalders, their agent, that 1 had effected the tale. 1 did not then mention that the stock had been reduced. I did not consider this necessary. I asked Mr Shalders whether it was necessary to transfer the policy to Mr Scott, ami whether it was valid under the circumstances. Since the fire I notified the company, through Mr Johnson, that my stock was of less value than £4OO. Mrs Scott has paid me money—about £30 — ou account of goods purchased since the Ist April out of the £SO or £IOO. Isabella Scott said : I lit the jets aud the lamp on Saturday night. I last filled the lamp on the previous Satur-

day. The kerosene was kept in thojstoreroom, and when I filled the lamp on the 9th the tin was almost empty. I ordered another tin of kerosene about five o'clock on Saturday evening from Davcy's store. It was brought to my shop about five o'clock en .Saturday night. It was required for the house, but opened at the shop. By Mr Shepherd : The value of the stock purchased from Mr Spedding was £338 13s (id. The fittings were valued at £l2. I was satisfied with the purchase, and that I got value for my money. My husband and I left the premises together on Saturday night. I locked the front door, which we can e out. This I supposed to be a quarter or twenty minutes past nine. The lights were all put out, but I did not put them out. The hanging lamp was put out about a quarter of an hour before we left. There was a tin box of matches in the front shop on the counter. lam not nervous about fire, and ncvir had a fire on any previous occasion. At the time of the fire I knew Mr Spedding had an insurance on the stoclc, but we had no arrangement with him. I could cot form any idea of the value of the stock on the day of the fire, but I was_ always getting up fresh goods and I think they would balance the sales. Mr Spedding had not been pressing me to settle up. I did not hear the alarm of the fire until 10 o'clock, and my husband and I both went to the fire. I havo paid Mr Spedding £2OO, and as he agreed to take back £ICO worth, I owe £2O on the old stock. Mr Spedding took back £l6 worth of the £IOO agreed upon, the rest was burnt. I have paid Mr Spedding about £35 on the new stock. I have ordered goods from travellers, but Mr Spedding has nothing to do with that. The whole of my purchases outside of Mr Spedding would amount to ;ibout£2o. If Mr Spedding paid us £l5O out of the insurance we should lose considerably by the fire. I cannot account in any way for the outbreak. John Scott, draper, of Hamilton, said : I put out the only gas jet that was burning in the bazaar and my wife timed off the one in the shop. I was quite satisfied with the business and have never tried to sell it to anyone. 1 have no suggestion to offer as to the origin of the fire. Robert Wardell, fettler. of Hamilton, said : I owned the shop formerly occupied by Mrs Scott. It was insured for £l5O. I valued the building at £2lO. I have not the slightest idea of the origin of the fire. The Coi oner then addressed the jury. He said there were three verdicts to choose from, " wilful incendiarism," " cause unknown," aud " accidental fire " ; but there was not sufficient evidence to justify the latter. At midnight the jury retired for ten minutes, when they returned the following verdict : " The jury consider that there is no evidence to show the cause of the fire, which originated en the 16th July, in the shop of Mr Scott." A rider was added that the jury was of opinion that the Borough authorities should take some steps to obtain ap* pliances for the suppression of fire.