THE FIRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1249, 14 June 1864, Page 2

THE FIRE.

INQUIRY AS TO ITS ORIGIN.

On Wednesday, June 8, a public inquiry with regard to the origin of the late fire, was held in the A 1 Hotel, corner of Colombo and Cashel streets, before J. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, and a jury composed of the following gentlemen:—William Wilson (foreman), John Younghusband, John Coker, Alex. Matthews, Joseph Cockroft, George Jones, William Stringer, Alexander Mills, John King, William Lippard, William Wilson, Oscar Kirby, and Thomas W. Gourlay. Mr. Louis, solicitor, attended to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Australasian Insurance Company. The first witness called was Charles Obins Torlesse who, on being sworn, stated:—l cannot say anything about the origin of the fire. I didn't get down until thb flr6 had burnt our premises, and was burning the adjoining ones. I was in the premises about three o'clock. Mr. Matson left about two o'clock, perhaps. One of the clerks left about two. Mr. Harper, Mr. Bedford, and myself left about three o'clock. We had no fire on the premises, either in a grate or 'in the shape of a candle, on that day. I did not see the premises closed. It was the duty of .a boy named Louis PapprilJ, who is my errand boy, to lock up the premises,.and take the key next door. It was his usual duty to do so. Of my o.wn knowledge I can give no information as to the origin of the fire, but several persons have told me that it originated in my premises. Louis Papprill, sworn and examined — I am a messenger in Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's office. I usually lock up the premises. On the afternoon of Saturday last, Mr. Bedford and I went out together about three o'clock. I had previously been through the rooms. There was no fire in the premises that day, nor had there been any candle light. I locked up the house, back and front. I took the key into Mr. Urquhart's. I gave the key of the front door, looking into Colombo street, to Mr. Urquhart. Examined by Mr. Louis —There is a door at the back of Messrs. Matson and, Torlesse's premises. That door is fastened with a bolt. I fastened it on Saturday afternoon. A person from the outside could undo that bolt, because it is only a temporary one.

To a Juror—We had a fire up stairs on the day previous to the fire. I cannot say whether they were colonial coals which were burnt or not.

Mr. Torlesse re-examined by Mr. Louis — I think a good push from the outside would open tiie door. The back door was only bolted. I recollect one of our firm, when wanting the "post office key, getting in by means of that door for it. There was no substantial dfficulty in the way of getting into the premises by the door at the back, if a person had his mind made up to do so. To the Foreman—Mr. Bedford is a clerk of mine. I don't know that lie lit a pipe in the office on that day. It is quite possible that a match may have been struck.

Louis Papprill recalled:—l didn't see Mr. Bedford strike a match on the day in question. He might have struck one lip stairs, but I cannot swear he did. He did not leave the premises smoking. I went down stairs, and Mr. Bedford followed. When he went outside the door I locked it.

Mr. Torlesse, re-examined by Mr. Louis—There were no inflammable articles that I know of in the premises. • There were papers. There was no kerosine oil in them. The back premises contained some guano, a quantity of butter, and other articles. I know of nothing having been there which would specially lead to the fire. To a Juror—On one occasion I tried to get into the back premises, but found it a little difficult, and I gave up the effort. I could easily have gained access to my premises by that door, if fire had broken out or anything' of a serious nature, and I wanted an entrance. ...

Henry Bedford examined—l am a clerk in the firm of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse. I left the premises about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, in company with Mr. Torlesse, Mr. Harper, and the boy Louis Papprill. I saw the latter lock the door, and take the key into the next house. Mr. Torlesse, Mr. Harper, and I were smoking when we left the office. I don't think that the matches with which we lighted our pipes were the occasion of the fire. In about half an hour afterwards, in passing the door of our office again, perceived the store door in the centre of the building apparently ajar. That is, the front door of the store. I went and tried it, and found it open. Atleast, I opened it by pushing it. Immediately obtained the key from Mr. Urquhart, went in, came round to the store, and saw what was the occasion of its being open. The lower screw of the box of the lock appeared to have come out, and had been fastened, as I since ascertained, by the boy with a shingle nail. I got another nail and the heavy head of a hammer, and fastened it up securely as I thought, and tried it until it. could be more properly secured on Monday morning. I then went out of the office, through the passage, locked the passage door, and took the key to the next house, occupied by Mr. Urquhart,. I think: it was then four o'clock. This was the last I saw of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's office. To Mr. Loujs—l was not smoking when I went to the office a second time, I have no idea at all of the possible origin of the fire. ,',To the Coroner—l did not smell anything like fire at four o'clock. > . To the Foreman—l don't remember what was done with the matches with which Mr. Torlesse and myself lighted our pipes, but I suppose they were thrown down. There is only one grate in the office. To a Juror—When I went to secure the door at four o'clock, I was not smoking. A man would have great difficulty in getting through the windows at the back of the premises. I don't know that any of them were broken. , To Mr. Louis—l should say niost people who liad connexion with the premises knew the back way df entrance.

To the Coroner—An entry might have been forced into the premises from the back, without much trouble.

To a Juror—There was a small tin of kerosene oil in the back premises for private use. It contained about two and a half gallons. I don't think that tin was broached.

P, Pender, Inspector of Police, deposed—l was standing at the corner of Colombo and Hereford streets,* about ten minutes past eight o'clock on Saturday night liist. I observed what appeared to be smoke or steam, coming apparently from the direction of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's. At first I imagined it was steam from the baths. I did not take particular notice of it. It didn't strike me very forcibly, because it was nothing unusual: I went to the watch-house, and made an entry in the watchhouse book at twenty-four minutes past eight. I did not make an entry of this matter. When returning from . the watch-house, and when I bad reached the establishment of Hawkes and Strouts, I again saw the smoke coming more densely than before. I was thinking of going to the back of the premises to make enquiries, but seeing no sparks issue from thp place, I did not do so. I passed on, and I think I was about Mr. Moss' when I heard the shout " Fire." It must have been three minutes afterwards. I came back as fast as > I could to Mr. Ayers', and lie said the flre was not in his establishment. I then ran to Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's, and somebody about the premises said, " Keep the doors shut." There was no light in front of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's at this time. I proceeded to the and as I could not get in to the rear I pulled down a fence. Sergeant Walsh then came up to me, as did also another man. The former jumped up on Mr. Urquhart's back kitchen. I perceived a cask of water quite full, and with buckets which were lying about, we poured water on the houses. The place was all in smoke, which appeared to me to be coming out of aback kitchen. Urquhart's place was not then on fire. I called to Sergeant Walsh and the other man to sling the water in as fast as they could to the place from whence the smoke issued. Just then the flame burst out. Sergeant Walsh and, the other man were on Mr. Urquhart's roof. The place from which I saw the flame burst out was between Mr. Urquhart's and Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's, at a place where the roof of the lean-to joins the main building. When I rushed in, and saw the fire more clearly, I found that it was burning under the back premises. To a Juror—When I speak of the back premises, I mean the lean-to which attaches itself to the main building. To the Coroner—l called to Sergeant Walsh, Sergeant Sugrue, and others who were on the roof to come down; that there was no use in staying any more where they were. They came as desired, and when we reached the front of the premises, there were several persons in front of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's# ' ' 1 To Mr. Louis—l feel pretty certain that the fire must have originated in Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's. I can confidently say that the fire was not first in the premises of Mr. Urquhart.

To the Foreman—The smoke which I first observed coming from the building was nothing unusual. I have no idea of the person who shouted " shut the doors." I think Mr. Turner was about the premises when the shout " shut the doors" was raised. I know Mr. Anderson, of the Fire Brigade. I would know his voice if he had shouted out " shut the doors." I should state that when returning from the watch-house (the place being between me and the large lamp at Ruddenklau's) I did not consider the smoke to be anything unusual. — Urquhart, sworn and examined—l am a watchmaker and jeweller. I was sitting at work in my shop on Saturday night last after I had put up the shop shutters. I cannot exactly say what time it was. Mr. Lummis and his wife came into the shop and remained in it, to the best of my recollection, ten minutes. We were conversing about having my name put above the door as successor to Mr. Asmussen. While in conversation I smelled something which alarmed me. I went into the parlour of my house, and found that all there was right. Mr. Lummis said that the smell was outside; they had felt it before they came into my house. I resumed my work, and in a short time afterwards Mr L)unn, the cabman, came to me, and said the place was on fire, and asked me for the key of Mr. Torlesse's. I said I'had-not got it and did'nt know where it was, and told him to break open the door, I went outside and saw the door open. When the front door was broken open a good deal of smoke came out. I ran into my own place, and was so confused that I can tell of nothing which occurred afterwards. To a Juror —It was not like the smell of kerosine oil. To another Juror—l have never smelt the smell of guano on flre. To the Coroner—My kitchen and bed-room are lean-tos. There was no fire in my back premises since I enteral the house. I kept the fire in my parlour, which adjoins the shop. To the Foreman—l could not say what person it was who broke open the door of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's. H. W. Eeid deposed—l am proprietor of a cab, and belong to the Fire Brigade. On Saturday evening last I was walking up and down between Mr. Fisher's store and the cab stand. Dunn, who drives the other cab, was along with me. He ob-

served smoke to issue from the direction of Matson and Torlesse's premises, and called my attention to it. I thought there was nothing remarkable about it. About half-past eight I observed more smoke to come down the street from the direction of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's and Mr. Urquhart's. We both left our horses and walked over. Just as I got to the footpath in front of the premises of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse I noticed smoke to issue from the shingles on the top of the main building. I was not then certain whether it proceeded from. Mr. Urquhart's or Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's, but from what I have since heard, I believe it came from the latter. I called out " Fire, fire, fire," jumped on my cab, and proceeded down to the engine house, giving the alarm as I went along. When I returned the place was in a blaze. James Turner, sworn and examined—l am clerk in the office of the Secretary for Public Works. On Saturday night, between eight and nine o'clock, when passing the City Hotel, I discovered there was a great deal of smoke overhead. I looked about in order to ascertain whence it proceeded, and crossed over to the entrance to Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's shop. Two men were standing at the door, evidently pushing it. With my assistance the door opened easily. I saw nothing when the door opened in consequence of its being so dark. I- struck a light, and discovered that the place was filled with smoke. I said " come outside; shut the door, or the house will blow up." We closed the door. Iran into Professor Ayers' shop, gave the alarm, and seized a bucket with which I threw water on the premises. By the time I had gone round by a circuitous route to the back of the premises the flame had burst out under the roof of the main building, in the place where the lean-to joins it. To the Foreman —I cannot tell who came into Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's with me. To Mr. Louis—l did not notice any fire in the back of Profes»er Ayers' when going to the back of Matson and Tor]esse's|. • A. Ayers was the next witness examined. He stated that he was engaged in his business on the evening in question when a person came to him and asked him if he had not heard of a fire in his next door neighbour's house. He replied that lie had not, and immediately went out into the street. There was at that time no appearance of flames in the front. Proceeded to the rear of the block, and discovered that a fire had broken out in the extreme corner of the lean-to of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse's premises. Had no fire in the baths attached to his premises since 12 o'clock, on Saturday.; Had kept no fire m them except in the mornings, because it did not pay to do so. To Mr. Louis—The chimney attached to the tank of the baths is, I suppose, about six feet back from the lean-to.of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse. I have .never observed sparks to issue from it. I have kept great fires in the furnace during the summer, and have not seen sparks to fly from the chimney on any occasion. j This closed the evidence.

Mr. Louis said he was quite satisfied as to where the fire had originated, but how it originated remained to be told.

In reply to the Coroner, Inspector Pender said that the authorities were not prepared to produce any further evidence at present. The Coroner—ls there any possibility of having any other witnesses before us who can throw still further light 011 the matter? Inspector Pender—Perhaps if you would adjourn the inquiry others can be produced. The time has been Very short to make inquiries. The Coroner—l don't see anything which would warrant an adjournment. 1 think that, having gone through the evidence, there does not seem to be anything that can prevent the jury coming to the conclusion that the fire was accidental. If you are all of that opinion,l will record your verdict. The Foreman was of opinion that the fire was the result of accident, and all the jurors concurred that such was the case, and returned a verdict to tl e effect, " That the said fire occurred in the back premises of Messrs. Matson and Torlesse, but how it originated there is no evidence to shew." Tlie proceedings then terminated,