INQUEST ON THE LATE FIRE AT TENUI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 149, 2 May 1879, Page 2

INQUEST ON THE LATE FIRE AT TENUI.

Q. , (FROM OUlt OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The inquiry into the burning of the Tinui Hotel, came off this evening. R, Maunsell, Esq. J.P., acted as coroner, and the jury of twelve were, Messrs Belliss, Groves, Perry, Fabian, Brading, W. Langdon, S. Langdon, Roberts, Nicholls, Gauge, Williams, and Hughes. J, Fabian was chosen foreman. W. Taylor, a bootmaker, deposed—botween 3 and 4 o'clock of the morning of the29th inst,, I m sleeping in a cottage at the back of the Hotel. I was awoke by a glare of light, I aroused Anslow, a man who is working for me, and,told him to look for water, whilst I aroused the house. The fire was then coming out of the roof near the kitchon chimney, I shouted out " fire, fire," Anslow threw some water on the fire, this appeared to clwck it. I then set to work to save my effects. S. Anslow, bootmakor, deposed—MiTaylor woke me crying fire. I was partly dressed, sleeping on the floor in the samo cottago, Taylor said go and fetch some water; I got some water out of a cask, I throw the water on the flame near the kitchen chimney and it appeared to liavo effect for the time, I looked for more but could not find any. I then with Brand broke in tlio scullery door to see what could bo done, found kitchen full of smoke unci fire running up the side of the chim-. ney, I could do nothing inside. We then endeavored to save our own goods as there was no water. I think it was early morning, the floor and roof wore on fire when I went in, I did not notice a man intoxicated, all the water I could see was about three buckets in a cask, I believe there was more water in a tank, The noxt witness Mrs Tobin deposed : —I was cook at the Tenui Hotel. I left the kitchen at a quarter to nine on Monday night. There was but little fire, only a few embers in the kitchen fire-place. I swept them together, and left the kitchen. The kitchen walls wero clay, and the brick hearth was sound, The kitchen chimney was never on fire to my knowledge, 1 have been in the house 14 months. Part of the house was on fire once before on New Year's Day. The chimney was sound. When I first saw the fire it was about 3.30 a.m., and it appeared to be coming from the back of the chimney. I was awoke by cries of" Fire," My husband and I slept in the same cottage as Taylor, There were no holes in the kitchen floor, No one was allowed in the kitchen but another female servant. I bolted the doors from the inside before going to bed. The kitchen could be entered from the dining-room. Mrs Miller was in the habii of going into the kitchen for baby's food. The other servants sleep in the hotel. C. Miller deposedl was landlord of the said hotel. _ On the night of the 28th of April I was in Masterton, The chimney is old but was never on fire. The building was never on fire before, only some curtains. I cannot account for fire unless some embers got down the brick-work. I was on my way to Wellington. I left Tenui about noon on the 28th inst. I have never observed holes in the kitchenfloor. There was only one broken place in floor about 10 feet from the fire-place. I do not think anyone would do me an injury by setting the place on fire, I did burn kerosene down stairs, candles upstairs; had no watchman on the premises ; I always feared fire on account of the scarcity of water.(At this stage of the proceedings a plan of the kitchon was described.) Mrs Miller deposed—l am the landlady of tho Tinui Hotel; on the morning of the 29th inst, when I heard cries of fire, I was awake feeding my baby ; it would be between 3 and I o,clock; I was last up in the house, and last in the kitchen; that was at 11.5 p.m. of the 28th inst. ; at that time there was no fire in the fireplace; I did not make any firo: I had a firo in my own sitting-room; the only way any one could get into the kitchen was by the dining-room ; the other doors were locked; I could not say how the fire originated, but believe it broke out in the kitchen; I never had any fear of fire in the kitchon; there were no lights in the house by 11.30 p.m. of the 28th inst. ; I have no reason to suspect it being set on fire; I ran and opened the kitchen door after hearing the cry of fire, and the place was in flames; I then closed the door; my husband was away at the time ; ho was in Masterton, on his way to Wellington. W. Price deposed—l was barman of the Tinui Hotel; on the morning of the 29th inst. I was awoke by hearing cries of fire; I fully dressed and went in the passage of the main building; I smelt firo strongly ; I opened the kitchen door and saw it was full of flames and smoke; closed the door, and immediately informed Mrs Miller; there was no hope of saving the building ; asked for the key of the bar, and when in struck a match and noticed the time, 20 minutes past 4 a.m. ; we cleared the stock out of the bar ; I cannot form any idea of how the fire originated ; I closed the bar at five minutes past 10 p.m. on the 28th inst; I have been only two weeks in Mr Miller's employ ; I saw no one to bed who was the worse for liquor. This concluded the evidence, when the jury gave the following verdict" That the Tinui Hotel was burnt on the morning of the 29th inst., but there was no evidence to show the fire originated, and concluded that it was accidental."