THE CARTERTON FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2830, 23 February 1888, Page 3

THE CARTERTON FIRE.

The Inquest. Verdict of Incendiarism. An inquest was held yesterday, at the CoWHouse, Carterton, in reference to the late fire, before .Or Spratt, , coroner for the district, and a jury of six of whom Mr H. Cnllister was chosen foreman. W. Parker deposed that he should lit was about 20 minutes to 1 a.m. of. the 14th February, ion he perceived the reflection re in his bedroom mirror. He itely got up, The first person wag Mr Seed just coming out )use. The fire seemed to start shop originally owned by Mr md in the storeroom adjoining, not go near the fire till the fire' yas brought out. The two (ires to meet and then rush up the o Foreman: He believed the jinated in the lower part of the r Beard, who represented tho led Insurance Companies: He wt positively' say where the lmenced, but there appeared to separate fires, He had not yone about the premises. He l tho doors open, and anyone 3t in, He believed the place e Coroner; He did not believe Yas an accidental fire. • '. .F. W, E, Seed deposed:-1 live on opposite corner of the street. On Sunday evening, previous to the fire, I ' heard a number of young larrikins at the corner of the street where the shop was. I went to sleep after they were gone, and about a quarter to one o'clock; on Monday .morning I was awakened by the unusual glare, On looking out . I sawjthe shop known as Gallie's store ... all in flames. lat once aroused my servant girl and looked after tho children. I then came out, but immediately returned and secured all.the valuables about my place.- My impression was that the fire originated under the staircase in the centre of the building. When I first saw it, the fire was burning in the two front rooms, I canay say that I have seen anyone go in , or out, but I have seen the shop door standing open. I have no idea who were Jfe people who were lounging abouflue place. To the Foreman: I think that the ■ 'owner, had he studied his own inter. ests,- would havo kept the doors closed. To a juror: It might have been an hour between the time I heard the larrikins and when the fire occurred. To Mr Beard: I don't see how 1 the place could get on fire unless by incon- _ diarism. It would be.an easy thing , for anyone to be in the building without being seen from outside. Ido ' hot attribute the lire to the larrikins. Thos Proctor deposed; lam agent : for the Colonial Insurance Co and reside in.Carterton, The-insurance on the building known as Gallie's store ■ was effected through the head office, and I had nothing to do with it, It ; was insured for £SOO in the Colonial ■ Office, and they re-insured in another office for £2OO, so that the two offices

divided the risk. I did not inspect the buildingand cannot say the value of it, x ~• To tlift'oreman; The insurance has h&n effected since it was unoccupied. I»'ftuld not have insured''it at any ' price, as it was empty, and my instructions are to decline such risks.

.Thos Bennett, builder of Carterton, deposed: Ido not feel justified to give any estimate of the value of the building, known as Gallia's store, The Town Hall belonged to the Carterton volunteers and was insured lor £SOO. I was one of the trustees, I was told by the local agent that the policy lapsed on the 16th of February inst. The volunteers could not afford to reinsure; for ,£SOO so the amount was reduced to £4OO and accepted by the agent. Before, however, tho old policy expired the place was burned down.

W. H, Partridge deposed: I know the buildings destroyed by fire, On the Saturday previous to the occurrence and a few minutes before 8 o'clock, I saw Arm'ond Bennett trying to get out of Gallic's store through the window. I heard no footsteps previous to seeing him. .Xafcassisted him out, and he wMwd away without remark. I saw him also at the time of tho fire- , but he matin no allusion to his getting «of the window, W. Yickerstaff deposed : On the previous Saturday night to tho fire I heard Armond Bennett remark at tho Marquis of Normanby Hotel that there would be a blaze here to-morrow night. I have not heard any allusions from any ouo as to the remark made, since tho lire occurred. To Constable Darby: I am quite certain that the remark was made and • that Bennett made it, i Robert Carlson deposed: On the Sunday previous to the fire, I and another were talking at tho White \, Hart Hotel, about a Working Man's i -Club, when one Sorrensen, remarked that Gnllio's Store would make a very • good Club House,, and Armond ;, Bennett thereupon said that ib ought 'to have aby stick put to it. I told himj&fckeep such expressions to . himself.TP The jnryy.after considering the evidence, returned a verdict that " The ■ fire' was an'.act of incendiarism by some persjp) or persons unknown," and addfld a rider 'saying they wero of oprafon that "The Insurance Companies should be more cautious in '•'■ insuring such unoccupied and dilapitaled buildings, as that where the ■ recent fire originated, known as Gallie's store."