THE LATE FIRE AT TE AR0HA.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1701, 31 May 1883, Page 4

THE LATE FIRE AT TE AROHA.

The Inquest. At the instance of the District Coroner, Mr H.my Kenriok, an inquest was held on Tuesday morning last at the Resident M.igistidtea Court, at 11,30, before a jury of twelve, into the recent burning of the Hot Springs Hotel. Mr L'aul was chosen foreman. The Coroner, in opening the proceedings, uddrc«sed a few remaiks to the juiy on the necessity, or at least the desirableness, of an inquest in a case such as that which they had been called together to consider. Having dealt at some length on the points to be considered and the nature of the evidence which would be adduced, the Coroner proceeded with the investigation by calling the first w itness. J. 11. Baleke, called, deposed to having been atouscd by the barking of a dog at about 3 o'clock on the morning of the file. Saw a glare on the roof, and thought his own place was on fire, but being assured in his own mind to the contrary, fell off to sleep again. Awakened about ten minntes after, and discovered Colemau's hotel to be on fire. Went over to Quinlan's hotel, and awakened the inmates there, knowing that those in Coleman's would already have been aroused by the fire. Neither saw nor heard anybody about at the time. When he first noticed the fire, the flames were coming through the roof beside the chimney in the old dining-room. On returning from Quinlan's, heard some women screaming in Coloman's hotel, and, from this, knew they were all astir in the house. Immediately after tluV, he diiected his attention to saving his own goods. The goods were insured for £400' in the Victoria olfice, but there was no insurance on the building. Succeeded in saving most of the goods, but, notwithstanding, estimated his loss at about £170. John Coleman, late proprietor of the Hot Kpiings Hotel, was called, and stated that he ictired to rest on the night in question between 12 and 1 a.m. Was the last up in the house. Before rctiiing, he extinguished all the lights and files in the house. There were two iiies kept going on the night preceding the fiie, one in the piivate dining-ioom. Was awakened by his sister about three o'clock' who sang out ' Fiie.' On getting up, found thetoof of the old dining-room and his sistei's bedroom inflames. Did not think there was then any possibility of &a\ ing the house. Was not aw. lie of the cauac of the fiie, but supposed it to have otiginated with the chimney. The building was insured for £700 in the Victoria office, and the stock and furnituic weio insured for £400 in the South Jiiitish oilice. The insurances were in Mi Jaggei's name, lie lia\ing an interest in the concern. No portion of the insurance money would come to him, intimated his loss personally at o\ei C7OO in stock and depiceia-tion of the \alue of the ptopeity and the business. The 1 . e\\ Lie about 2.") people sleeping in the hotel at the time. Nearly all in the house sudered some loss. The Coioner at this stage of the enquiry addiesscd the ]ury. It was, he thought, fiom the evidence which had been adduced, unnci e^saiy to call any furthci c\ ldcncc. Thcie could be little doubt that the fiieoiigmatcd in the chimney, which may piobably lnne been foul, and some wood w oik connected with the i oof may have ignited. The evidence disclosed showed no direct cause for the fiie whatever. The jury considcicd it unnecessary to call any fuithercvidence, and letumed a virdict to the ellect that tiie disaster oiiginaled from unknown causes. — Te Aiohu Mad.