THE LATE FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 1966, 8 April 1867, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

(From the Otago Daily Times, April 5.) For many months prior to last Monday evening no fire of any consequence lias taken place in Dunedin; but, on that evening, one broke out, which was perhaps the most disastrous, in the value of thejjroperty destroyed, of any that has yet taken place. The night was fine, and th; wind light, otherwise the damage might have been even greater than it proved. The alarm was given about twenty minutes before eleven o'clock, when it was found that the shop of Mr G. Willson, ironmonger, was in flames. The shop stood well towards the northerly end of a block o{ wooden buildings on the west side of Princej street; the extreme north being Mr Harding's Octagon Hotel, and Mr Barker's Criterion Hotel, at the corner of Moray Place, being the southernmost. Between these two were the Theatre Royal, Mr G. It. West's music shop, Messrs Herbert and Hayne's drapery and clothing establishment, Messrs Paterson and M'Leod's grocery and tea shop, and several other places of business. These were in flames within an hour; along the Octagon and Moray Place probably ten more sets of premises havo been destroyed. On the opposite side of Princes street, Mr Willson's shop was about faced by the brick building which is partly occupied as the South Australian Hotel, by Mr C. M, Ware, and partly by Messrs Cullen and Key. The site of this pile is that on which stood the wooden pile then known as the Provincial Engineer's Buildings, which marked the limit of destruction in that direction on the night of the great fire which commenced in a shop in the Octagon, and destroyed Guy Bennett's Octagon Hotel, and many other buildings. Next the Jiouth Australian Hotel, is a gap, which kept the former Are from doing more than scorching severely the shop of Mr C. Begg, pianoforte and music dealer. The South Australian Hotel, being of brick, resisted the intense heat which came from the burning piles opposite; but all the glass was smashed, the doors and window frames burned, and the whole hotel and premises cleared out, so imminent was the danger of ignition. Mr Begg's premise.', being wood, aftor smoking fiercely for J while, burst into one great blaze: and the fire could uot be itayed until that block, including Mr W. Gregg's coffee and spice store, had been destroyed, Moray Place Bgain being ■the barrier across which the flames lortttnately did not leap. The premises destroyed were]:- J- H " r ' ding's Octagon Hotel j Jago and Co., o<f gon timber yard; Law, Somner anoU, nurserymen and seedsmen; J. M'N. Simp* butcher; A. and T. Burt, plumbers; Garrett and Co's. Octagon coach factory; G. ffiiwj. ironmonger; Herbert, Hayne's and to., drapers and clothiers; Paterson and» grocers and wine and spirit merchants: , James De Maus, photographer jG. K. " ft ' ! pianoforte and music seller; Sontgen m Carr, tutors; James Heid, chemist and druggist ; J. Zierk. fancy warehouse; lneai" Koynl; Criterion Hotel, P.Barker; a*" Boarding House ; S. H. Johnston, m « and gasfitter; a cottage. Onthee«w? side of Princes street there were bun down the premises of-C. Begg, pwjw» * and music dealer; Hamilton and wafW' furniture dealers; Scanlan Brothers, aim "i oil and color merchants; W. Gregg w coffee and ipice merchants; Schnacs Co., hairdressers and bathkeepers; >; Sinclair, tailor; J.R. Crawford, mrp*"' Tofield, watchmaker and jeweller. . The Fire Brigade were as prompta""' active as possible; but they could rea '> little or nothing except try to keep t lie l " from crossing Moray Place. They did i) save the easterly side of the street; heat was so overpowering, and the sF* the Are through the dry wood Btartlingly rapid, that the Londor Brig » > fairly supplied with water, could W have hoped to do much good. in » During the latter part of the fierce burjk of the Are, great flakes passed over causing much danger. One (lake » as far as a yard nt the rear of Messrs _ and Glendinning's warehouse, m •■' her street, and there ignited some papernnu j( . refuse. There was speedily a blaze: was discovered from the Provincial .ut and Mr Court and others, with m ta „ fllledbuckets keptin the hotel, at onte i «nd to the danger. „ ~,, , v hjcli Notwithstanding the rapidity wuu the Are spread, such was the eDI activity of several of the citizens, goods were saved than mightliave 01 , oipated. Mr G. R. West's piaMVas those of Mr Begg, were nearly all sa» ' j the value of property and goods w [Q cannot be estimated at less m forty-five thousand pounds. ]ie id A meeting of insurance ag*"™ ' of the on Tuesday forenoon, at the otnw Victoria Company, Prince? street. Hill Jack, agent for the Victor. C presided; and all the companies■«"*„,«,» agencies were represented, a n) - shewing the amount to which eau re . is interested was prepared, ant » ig j n solved to call for an inquiry int J bei ,„ of the fire. The official statement ccrarteously furnished to us through

a nd all the following detafls are based upon flr Srßt!°as to'the total loss caused by the destruction of property on.Monday:iught. ; Sinsurances, upon buildings, burnt.down ; r much damaged, and the stocks of- goods *f the: furniture in them, amount; to, about. £i k e Octagon Hotel and Mr Wilson's shop Unneed to Mr William Meluish.,. The hotel !»s iusured for £7OO, and the shop; for £300,. . the Lirerpool. arid London..and: Globe Office. Prohably from. £3OO to.; £SOO would eoresent Mr, Meluish's.loss in. excess of Insurance. Mr. Harding, the occupier of the hcta*on Hotel, was riot at,all insured;,and liis loss is estimated, at £600...0r £800.., Mr Wilson's stock;was. .insured f0r.£300.: in the Victoria, and £SOO in. the. Alliance.; its total value being put dbwn;at£l2pi). -■' Messrs. Herbert, Hay he's;., and Co. held their premises on .ft building .lease; : tho. around owner being Mr D; Napier.-.:The,two shops were insured;for £IOOO, equally in the; Liverpool Variil London (we shall use. this: name for brevity), /and, the. ;Royal;.: Tlie bniloiiigs were Avortlv considerably more than £1000;:', The.'stock was!' insured.! for £3soo—£looo in the' Australasian, £ISOO in the Royal, £soo.in the. Otagp, arid.£soo in. the Victoria. The estimated value •of the stock was from : £If,OOQ to ,£16,000, It.-is. believed that nearly the', whole stock of silk goods was fortunately got' 'outjof the shop, audit is hoped that they <vill prore to be biit j little damaged;' therewas also; saved ;a;'considerable portion of the stock in the clothing department. Of'.'personal wearing apparel, the members of the firm, and their assistants saved no more;than, they wore and worked; i„ during tlie fire;;;.';, . Messrs Paters.on and M'Lepd were, owners of'the premises occupied by Mr G. R. West,,j[ r De Maris, and .themselves." The first was., insured for £5.00, in the/Imperial!; the second was not separately insured ;, the third was, insured for £sooin theimperial,.£3oo in the New Zealand, aiid £250 in .the -Royal, An additional sum of £3OO was insured .in.-.the floyal, on the second; arid third sets of preB ises. On the" whole, Messrsi paterson-and;

Jfleod's premises were pretty fully ipsiired. ; On their own. stock,' the-insurancesi amounted: j 0 in.tlie New Zealand;■ £.750 in' the London and Liverpool, £250 ih-the Eoyal,; and £SOO in the Otago... Bui the estiniated. loss to thefirm, on the.,stock,.is stated, at;; £2500; and : it is a - singular: fact,; that £6OO. worth should have; been taken in only during Monday afternoon and. evening. ■ ' 6. R, West: lir.West's.stock was.insured., for £IOOO in the Australasian ; but'tiie esti-. mated value .was" from': £300.0: to'' £3500.' /■ It was not possible:t6'fprmaubpiniou yesterday as to Mr West'sreaT loss,as,tlie : saved pianos, : &c., had not been exanilned.;..butit will ...be. j, eaT y_probably: .€ 1800 or £2000..... : ■. De Maus and Spritgen and Carr: We could not ascertain anything as to the loss; in either. oftliesecases. ' Keid, chemist.and ; druggist: This shop belonged to Mr Barker/ The stock, worth £750; was insured iii 'the; Royal for £250, The amount saved was but fsmall The Theatre .Eoyal. was the property of Mr Barker, and was. riot at.;all; insured, . The -Criterion....Hotel and Billiard; Room : also belonged, to. Mri P; Barker... The insurances amounted to £2800; £BOO in the : New Zealandj £IOOO in the Liverpool and : London, £2.50 k the Victoria; £250 in the'/ Otago, and £SOO in the Imperial; : The; hotel stock, &c., had ah insuraheeof £4ooirithe : Sew Zealand. These sums make a total of £3200; but Mr Barker's estimate is that. £7OOO would not suffice to replace his property as a- whole; as'it stood on Monday •evening."" The. tables.w.ere.;'got''out:bfthe. : ' billiard ..rbpniy but some of. the slates of each ; were left' in'the street arid were smashed,:; so that both tables, may be regarded as about destroyed;; and though .much of the hotel furniture was got.out, it was srii.asted or otherwis'e,.very greatly injured, : Wilkie's.. Cottage. Moray Place: . The building ivas insured, for £3OO ;in the Otago.; Johnston, plumber, &&, Moray Place, . : £2OO in- the Australasian, represents the; insurance on this building. The stock was not insured; and the loss on it is stated at' £2OO.

Law, Somner, and Co., Octagon: The; Mding, the property of the firm, is insured. for £SOO in the Royal; and on the stock■ there is £7oo.in the Royal* and £5/poin the. London and Lancashire. The estimate that the loss.is not more than, half covered, Simpson, butcher:.. Th& building belonged to the trustee, in. "Johnson's estate,"., and there is a policy for £3OO in the Victoria. : We understand that Mr Simpson was insured, for £2OO in the '■ tago; and he calculates Ms loss at as much more,.at least, ■'' Burt and Co., plumbers,, ironworkers, &c.: The firm's buiidirigs'was insured for £2OO in. the New Zealand; :atid their, stock,. ■&c.,.for £9OO in the saiae office.. THe building, partly. burned and'partly pulled down,, is about useless; much of thei'.stock : :was. or injured, and the estimated, amount of, the whole damage done iß'irpm £SOO to £6OO. ■ .: Garratt and Co.'s building is insured in the New Zealand for £150; We could not, ascertain the loss from, removal.of property. South Australian; Hotel, Gullen and Key's Bhop,&c, This building, wliicl is.the property of Mr Corbetf, : is .insured for. £l7oo— in the Otago, but £7OO/being reinsured by that company, in the Victoria. The estimated damageior repairs (the building being (of brick) is, £200.. Mr Ware,,the deeper of the hotel; is not. at all insured. His loss, consequent upon removal of stock and furniture will be about £3O. Messrs Cullen and Key's stock (furniture makers and dealers) is estimated as haiing been *orth £I4OO t0.£1500. ; j and the.deterioration from blistering, wetting, and..removal,' is/calciiated roughly at something..pver,.3p per Wt. The insurance on this stock is for £IOOO in the Victoria; . . ',...'■

Charles Begg, pianoforte, &c ydealer •Mr %g's insurance on the building was for £250 ia the Northern; His stock : was no} insured, but was mostly saved; his loss will Probably be £250. -.-'■-. "caalan. Brothers.: Building insured for *2su in the Northern..; stock for )E3QO in the f>ew Zealand. We could not ascertain the (OSS. ■■'■:

Tie loss of Mr Jago, timber merchant, *asabout£2soo;uninsured. . . ~..:'■■ Old Town, Board.office- This building ' belonged to Mr James Turner; and was ; Wsured in the Soyal. for. £466,.which was . Wow its value, The-lower part ,(re-cbn- c . T Wed into a shop) was empty; '':'-'•' h the upper part of this building, Mr Bal- !'"'' Q.E.j had/offices, as had also Mr, MGregor, Architect., 'Mr.- :Paterson,,'O.K., ' we railway engineer, had, offices, in Messrs' . 'attrson and M'teod's buildings. Instru-: ftcnts belongihg.to.the Goyerrimeht,: and all lne scroll plans of the Southern Trunk Rail- . * a V*erefirst takenfrom Mr.-.Patcrson's to ™r Balfour's office "j and..Bubsequently. they ere again rembyed, and. saved;.. But. many P'«is belonging to, ; Mr.patersbh,.'and plans ■ which were .being prepared: -,' 'w the purpose of being taken to England by £ r «. 0. Young, could riot be got out of Mr. * al «rson's office, and were .burned, :The.

Journals of the borings for the dock at Port': as taken by'or for Mr Balfour. we alsosaved—found by accident,we belieyei "Jliongst papers hurriedly bundled, out, when ■ * we crossed. Princes; street'.', MrM'Gregbr, 10 w plaus,'drawingß, and -instruments,■.. In; n <j or these cases can a money-value be easily m as representing theiloss sustained^; W. Gregg, coffee and spice merchant.:, Mr. j* e ggwastheownerof■ the:' building which J *j^ n Pied, and also the adjoining'one, o'ccur flb y Mr Schnack,.hairdresser'aind. bath-. ne formerhuildingwaainsured.for «, °. m 'heßoyal;.'the latter, for £350 in " e Australasian. Mr'■■'■Gregg's 'stock"; and: naehintry were.insured for £SOO in the New *wtana, £6OO in the.Koyalj : and (we believe). *wu in the "Victoria.' He. estimates, his loss J t» **' &e.j as £250 in excess of insurances.; bit i C °, not ascertain Mr Schnack's loss; . ll « has an irisuranee for £2OO inthe Aiis'ralasian. ■ •"■■'.' ft Illiebuildingllliebuilding which.belonged to Mr Sinclair,in the UverpboL -and London,' £4oh • L his iflsurances.oii' stock : were lasiin 1 " «f % a !. and £2OO in : the .Auatra-' wiu ,-, e ard that, Mr Sinclair's-loss; ■-■.■■:,■: ■■■■.■:-■■'■'■■", to m p fu feller;. Thisbuildinpelonged; John Logan, and bis insurance is £4BO.

in -the , Liverpool! arid,. London.! Mr 'Lpgaiv owns the .land from Moray. Place! down to the South: /Australian; Hotel .hloek. Mr ■CrawiordYstock; &c.,;was insured for £256; and, :Mr; ; Tofield's;: for: ;£2Ooj both in tlie ;yictdria, : y.',!■-.-■ '■■/,.,. y'' ~". ( \, ■ ■ ;,Takingthe .seem''tpßtarid:thuß'f—- ; Royal, !£545d.:.. Herbert; Hayries arid Co's; buildings, £50.0, :arid„ stock, £.IOOO j Paterspn .aiid,.;M'L'ebd!s; building, £250, and. stock,. £250 ; : West's .building, £300; Reld's stock, £.?50; Law, Sbmrier, .and Cpy's building, £soo,and stock, £700.; Turner's,building,, £4OO j Gregg's, building, £3OO, and stock, £6OO •, Sinclair's stock, £4OO, Liverpool and Londphj £.41.00: Qctagbri Hotel building, £7OO ; Wiilsori's.. building, £300; Herbert, "ijayi'ies'i and Go's and M'Leod's .stock, £750 ■ ' Criterion Hotel buildings, £1000;; Sinclair's buildings,,£4oo; Logan's building, £450, New . Zjaland, ■ £3650,-, Paterson and M'Leod's. building, £300,-.arid stock',' £3OO • ■ Criterion building, £BOO,-. and!'.stock, £4OO ; .■Burt's. building, £200; arid; stock, £900; Garrett's building, ieis'o'; .Scanlani?s stock, £30.0 : Gregg's stock, £500,. Australasian, £2750 : Herbert, Haynes and Goi's stock, £ 1000; West'B:,stock;,£looo; Johnston's building,, £2OO ; Schnack's shop, £3so,;;kndjtockj .£2OO. Victoria; £2300 (apart from. Cullen and Key son's stock, £300; Criterion, building, £250; Herbert, Haynes and pa's., stock,; £506 ; Simpson's building,' £300 •' Grawfordls stock, £250 ; Tofield's, stock, £2()Q.;,-Gregg-Vstock, £SOO. ■■'-'" : ' ; ■'■'■ ■'■■'■" . Gtago, £1550 . Herbert, Haynes and Co.'s stock,;£soQ : |.Pater66n and stock,; £500.; .Criterion building, £250 ; Wilkie's cottage, £3OO. ;■■■■■■■- 'lmperial.'£lQoo;: Patereon and WLeod's'.' building, £SOO ; Criterion building £500; ■s London .ana.; Lancashire,; £500.; Law,' .Spmuer'and : Co.'s, stpek,:. -.- ....- ; ; Northern, £SOB : Begg's-building, £250,! Scanlari's building, £250.,,., Alliance, £500,:! Wilison's stock. ■'/.'■'''..^'^HB..INQUEST. An inquiry in to the origin of the fire which, on •MpXdiiy / 'ni'gh.V. ! destroy.'q.d' so much pror perty in Princes, street north, was corrimenced yesterday, by Mr t. M. Hpckeri, coroner for; the district,

The inquest.. was intended to have been. held.inthe I cpmmerciairoom, at the Shamrock Hotel | : but; before, the Cordrier there ■■ were; as riiariy. persons assembled;., as couldhave been accommodated in that room. Mr Barker,' as soon, as the'• Coroner took; hia. seat;,protested, against, the inquest .being' held in..tlie..rb.orii; ; The inquiry, was one of great importance to him,; .and he did not; like ;to,. see any'indication of a desire to burke itV ■'.'... The Coron.er. was sorry,; as'well 'as■ sur-. prised, to bear "Mr Barker -make such re^ : marks. He (the Corqher) was responsible for the inquiry; He meant to makeit.eorn-: plete; and there was plenty of accommp-. .datiori ..in the. room for; the gentlemen who hid .been summoned.'as ''juror^.ahdJor the ..witnesses.'.,.'They. : "alone .werd' thos'e : ' whose ■presence was essential'to. the enquiry. How-ever,.the-Mayor had just offered,-very -kindly :to give the use.of'tlie.Council : ;Chamber.; arid; •therefore-riot, at alf tecaiise of :Mr : .:Barker'B:; protest, which .ought not to havejbeen made —he would, adjourn to the Council. Chamber; The adjournment-accordingly took place ■•;. and the following were.swprri as the jury : Messrs R ; B. : ; Martin (foreman)'W, H, Hey-; noldsi J. Griffenj G. Bnrke,G.: Whittjhglmnv ■E.KirkpatrickyT. Brown,..W, Stavely, G. ; M'Lean, G. .'Shand, R. Wilson,. H. Driver, C. . R...5. Dods ; ,.J. MlGuire, and: J.'Kirkwood.: The Coroner said ; that the ditty of the jury was to enqujre whether, the late fire was wilfully/caused; or was accidental, ._ If. the. .jury, found that it was an'-'act pf incendiarism, was the incendiary.. If-they were - not' satia'fled. that there had been; incendiarism,; then they must return .one of the tbo-cpmmon : open. verdicts, '■'■ "'.".-■< .'..,.;' ■■'.;.'■■ . The.following.evidence was.given .; John. Millar, C.E.: I. produce ~a .plan prepared by myself, : shewing the outline Of .Harding'shotel;arid-Mr; Willsod's : shopyadr.jbihipg.'.' 1 -I'"Tiraß.:ihatr'!ic'ted t6-preßareit-;by;'tli'e. Commissioner of Police. 'Me two -places were the property'of Mr Meluish;> and I understand that.\the Are on vMbnday last, began iri-Mr Wiliso.n's shop;! [The'witness - explained to : the jury the details.ofthe plan.] ,l;saw,tiie;.firei about its.; commencement,from my 6wn:hou6e v At that, time,,it 'seemed.'tp me to come from, tlie ridge;, of .the roof of a lean-to at thevbaek : . of Mr., Wijlson's shop, Which was, I understand; being, -converted into akitciieh. Itwas after.;the ben .rang, that I first sawthe ■

Heiiry Albert Holmes: 1 am a storehian, at Messrs. M'Landress, Hepburnand.Co's,.: anda member of the.Yolpteer lire' Brigade; On Monday night, at twentyrfive minutes, ■■: after ten by my watch,l was; passing Mr,. Wilison's shop,' and /heard a crackling .noise, .■, I looked through 'tlie chink,of a.little door; and saw a blaze at end of the shop; ■■ There was, what appeared to;,me, tb.be.a. :■ windo* behind the blaze.:. L.could ;see the; blaze rising, straight. flames, were, What Icall reddish coloured,,witha'blackish -. Bmoke.and' nsing:sftor:';6ft.lugh'i ahu'my thought was that. some. : orie. was .brazingj ■; though; I icpuid; hbt [see... any .'.-man, and : :i. ' couldn't make: out the noise of bellows..' The flame seemed 2ft in. diameter/and it'rose to within 3ft or 4ft of the ceiling. I;did:.riot observe that. there was much. smoke in : the .shop—but : tho glare might have pre-. ..vented. my-seeihg.it.. While ■-.I was. looking.; into the shop, a^.maipMßediandiaidi: M iAVh'a;t * are you-looking: at ?"'■.'-1 said;" If :you>lobk. ■■ in. you'll see.",. I;. could hot identify .that man.. I ran, -iiitq'.- the "Octagon- and;: asked', a- young,, man who: was sitting iri;tlie.- : bar if ,anyone:iived ; in "thenext house, .lie; ;an^wered|■'■'VNb:J''^i''a't■''fQK^■'"l : :' 8a i ( )r "I. : : adnse you tb pack up yqurgpods and, clear out.of the place as -soon .asyou can—the next, house is on .fire!"." 1 came out and: saw the. ■

.manl-havebefore.-mentioned,who:saidtliat : . we should pull down the sliiitters.■ The fire was blazing bigger than it"had>been. .1 said ■ ,^Np , ;'l-mVa':fireman..-'Tll-run-aown-arid';get-.' ■a',.,'.'"hand. ; pu'rap.". I: -ran/off : the ; engine; house,.. yelling "Eire/' .1 .did not notice that any smell; came out, of , the shop.. I ; distinctly .beard a .crackling nqiseV as. of ; light;, timber burning—that attracted my : 1 ■returned/in aboiit five minutes; with the Juiia ■ iiahd-engine j ; but then the place bad been -burst" open, the . roof of the' Octagon 1 lotel \yus : oh firei and :■ the hand-engine w ; as|u3t of ho.use; whatever. ; -. By" the foreman;: The little door, through the I looked, was bnlhe side: of the shutters nearest the Octagon. The opening through which I ;10'oked : was about a quarter of an irichwide. I would have broken the : shop ; open but ;J:bad no of putting . theifird out, and I.kheW) tlierefore, tiiat I had better hot do anything....... :..,--, ,;,::■ :,,,.Sahiuel.:T,lioiripß6h Kerr, draper;:. About twenty mjnutes.'af ter te'froil Monday night I left our:-pluce,.and, walked leisurely along, Princes street., : In passing Willsbn's.T saw,

ii light thrpugh the the shop-'; I looked;- 'through-, a. crevicej-simply'from.curi-'. ,bsityi and saw a light hot' greater, than : would; be in a merchant's officeesuch; as would come from a" gas laitip: 'k: ! . l fancied.it.WßS behind ; the counter, ■ but X --"eaw- hoimoke, nOr any-: thing tb lead hieto suppose there/was anything wrong. ". AsVl looked, the flame grew: Btrbnger, and I kicked : the. ihut't'ers two or tiiree times; as if to say," Is anybody there?" i.When nobody, 'came,; I. -.thought thtre was. something■'.wrong, and' I rah into the lobby of..tlie; Octagon. Hotel; and cried "Fire." I do not .recognise the. -witness .Holmes; but. .1 (lid., hear; some "■■one. say; he'; was. a .:.flremaV'-.v'ah'd ■ would;/-' get ■■ the, bell rung. //In, thfe hotel; 1 Lean recognise—this bne : (Philip Bourgeois); " We. both went and looked -in' j : we kicked at the. :shutters jland the .others pulled at ;them j; and when two slipped down,"we: saw;de/ cidedly that the place'was, on fire.: It'wasat the back, of the shop; and; the momentary

glance did hot alter my bpinioh-that- it-was behind the counter.;'l shouted out ;«■ Fircj;',' : 'and ; Mr ?.,'?;'; I' answered,and.ran.; into. and' as.'l, Entered; a maii got out.; ;;He cried, " There's k'eros.ehe.there 1" and I thought I had better hot ..that ":but;- when ■.'".L' , '"'-got out

of tlie shop, I: looked /.at. tho Are, and the. flames seemed : they -..were, running-lip. beams, and catching the ceiling most, rapidly; What;,! saw when I. first looked Into the shop:was a'clear; reili-iflame—-my::!mpresßionwa9.thatit.was\'a rapid kind of fire, without, much smoke have! heard it said that ...there was 'smoke,- arid I; cimnot.contradict it. There was no smelt at all, After, coming out of the shop, I made a!) the noise I .could to. cause an alarm.. 1 went into Herbert;, Hayries's. passage, and called for what seemed, to. me to be fire, .minutes. I do not at; all suggest that the. man; who came out, of the shop, was'there, before the shutters 'were- pulled down—decidedly.my■..■impression-, was.that ho,entered ;from- the street, after the' shutters were removed. It is a:'Btrong..;impressip'n.. with.riie, that the .man who helped to pull down the : shutters .did.at once, sf ep.into the. shop. When I was opposite thei Criterion, going towards. Wjilson's, j ..passed '.a . policeman' who was coming from.thVdirection;of the Octagon;. Bytlie Foreman : What Mfsf.saw.'in''the th6.shop.was. ajetor smal'ljb'ody'qf 'flame—ript' that there was a light burning which.l could notsee... It seemed; to.nie. to be little more thaii equal to acandle..flame.., . 'By Mrfip'ds:': The ''.impression pri my mind, from whatthe man. said; as: he came uatof the shop was, that he thought it was dangerous .for anyone to be in (lie place, because there was'kerosene there, '■...■■,.■■■ By Mr T. Brown : I had often looked into tlie shop; in passing;; and I should say that the flame was at 'the; back of the shop, and not very far from the. partition. I make a mark on the plan.produced, shewing where I thirit the.flame was. -. -

By.Mr Dods: I believe I saw the flame itself, as I looked into the shop. By the .'Coroner'!' I am under the impression that there was. a counter, nr something: of tlie. sort.-at the : back. oftheshop. and that. . the! fire 'vras ibeliiihd that" something, ...Phillip; Bourgeois: Iwasintlie employ of , Mr.Hardirig| Octagon. Hotel, On Monday : night, at;2o:hiihutes! past ten, I was in tliehnr. A man ran in, aridasked if there was anyone living in the -next-house. I said "No—why ?" He said, "There is afire in ..the shop." I ran out, and-in the passage I was met by the billiard 1 , marker. We went and looked through the shutters; and.we saw a strong light, and Are; 4ft. or.sft; high, iii the back part .of the shop. ■. There' was ripthing.in the way to pre-r yent.me'Seeing. I did not see smoke.or smell, anything.... There was... a small door in the .shutters, butl-couid.ript'.open. it. I have ho, -doubt.it was IpcKed. Then, me and two men rrrpfie''of.-ithem I believe being the.last witness —julled : down the shutters. I and'the billiard 'marker: iwent. iri ; .together;..through the. opening. ,1 ran; trirpugh the shop, direct to- . wards;_the!'fire.„ Then ~1 found that Lcoul.d; not get to'it, for there we're buckets, round it,: The flame was all one reurid body ; at tlie.: very. outside, it might ..have, been 2ft in :dianieter.,' I.could!not see where the; flame came from at first,, because there were washing tubs arid buckets piled up—iri twos or more—both before and behind. I nipved some two or three of the buckets away ; ,but in moving some more, tlie vessel in,which ..the flame was, Capsized. I heard sdmethmg-M—but. whether, it was a can ; e.r, a bucket, I cannot tell. The capsize was ■towards'- the hotel; All the place was then in flames. ! did riot touch the vessel at all. the buckets! were;, quite close to ..it, No, I dpn't.say.that the; bucketshad'been.' 1 ranged ": reurid the vessel; for niy impression-was that they were. just, as ..they had. been left after, some had been taken out; and sold. The vessel capsized away from me.and the side where I was removing ■ tlie buckets; When. the vessel capsized; liquid: fire ran over the shop floor, aiid;l rail but;. Iniay have cried; "There's kerosene there;"but Ido not- re--.member saying it;

Bythe.Fpferaan:. When the vessel capsized.there was a heavy dull sound—nbtpf wood, exactly. I heard a cracking noise sis .we wentjhto the shop as of wood burning. I.did hot notice that any of the buckets had ignited. ~ By...the.. Coroner : I don't know whether Miller, the billiard .marker, moved 1 any of. the buckets. He Went, round the fire—further iritothe. shop than me;. I am.sure that there wasiiquid fire after the capsize; and there must have been a good deal of liquid in the yessefi ■ By Mr Driver: There was no' crash as of breaking/glass, when the vessel capsized; By-Mr M'Lean';:-There' must; have;been more.liquid than ah ordinary kerosine lamp: wouldcpntain; : ■'■'-'

Joseph: Miller: I. was billiard marker at: the; Octagon Hotel. On Monday night;, a mancame into the billiard room, and said,

" I think there's a fire next door." I went out at once, and the last witness rushed after me. We looked through the seam of the shutters and saw a large bright flame—as kerosine, or even brighter—burning up to the ceiling. There was no smoke, We broke down two shutters and we went in. There was a large board, 9ft high, standing there, when I went behind the flame; and I pulled that board down, thinking it would smother the flame. But the hoard upset something, I suppose, and the flame rushed nil about, There was a space of about 4ft, I should think, betwe n the lire, and the back partition. There were buckets or tubs round the flames—different lots of tubs. The board was closer to the flames than was any of the buckets. I don't pretend to know at all what vessel the flame came from—but I believe it was kerosine that was burning. It was a deal board, 9 inches wide, that I refer to. It was close alongside the fire, hut I am sure that it had not ignited. The flame was going up to within 18 inches of the ceiling; but when I had pushed the hoard down, and the flames touched the floor, they blazed right up to the ceiling. I did not see any vessel at all, which I thought contained what was burning. I thought it was kerosene burning. There was something between the flame and floor, but I do not know what. When the flame ran along the floor, I felt pretty sure that what was burning was kerosene. I was glad to escape with my life. I do not know Mr. Willson, nor do I know that I ever saw him, By Mr <<. Willson: I only say that there were buckets round about the flame—not that they had been placed there, or ranged round. By Mr Driver: What the flame came from was something round, and about, two feet high. It might bare been such a thing as this (a kerosene cm). The fire would not have burned itself out if the vessel had not been upset, for the flame, was just catching the ceiling. By the Coroner: The waiter mi|<ht see better what the vessel was than I did, for I was behind it, and he was in front of it. George Willson: I am an ironmonger. I have resided in Dunedin five years. I kept a shop in Princes street, On Monday night, 1 had just gone to bed, when about 25 minutes before eleven, I heard the bell ring. I live in Dowling street, at the top of the steps from Princes street. I got up and looked out of window, and afterwards went to the hack room window, and one upstairs facing the Octagon. From the last, I saw tmoke and n bright light, but not flame, in the direction of the Octagon. I dressed as speedily as possible, and ran towards the fire. As I passed along Princes street. I saw Herbert, Hay net' neople, pulling down their shutters. I did not observe that,my shop was on fire, though I saw that the fire whs in toy neighbourhood ; but knowing that I had kerosene in my yard, I ran round to the back, There I saw that the kitchen of the Octagon Hotel was on fire, and on looking up at my premises I saw that the buck of Herbert, ilaynes, and Co.'s premises were on fire up towards the roof. I did not see that my shop was burning, but Herbert, Ilaynes, and Co.'s extended further back than mine did. I think I must have observed it had the back of my shop been burning. It was an iron roof and had iron at the buck. The mark on the plan . shewn to me is about three feet from the hack of,my shop, as shewn here, near to a glass door, lending to a back p aee I was having fitted as a kitchen. I intended to removo from Dowling street and to live in the upper part of my thop premises. The carpenters had been at the work for three or four days, and were so on Monday. When I got to the back of my shop I saw some men pulling down the fence between Jago's timber yard and the backs of the houses, II called out,"Bear a hand here, for there is kerosine." I jumped over the fence,

and handed Cense each to two men,tiok one myself, carried it into the Octagon, and ■ returned.'agaitf.and carried away a fourth case. .1 went with the men, and the kerosene jiros left Sin ;the ; Octagon. I returned to the back of; my ..premises, went to a glass door, .broke,.the glass,.put my hand through, and raised, an; iron .bar that fastened the door. I did not then see that my premises were burning. . I kicked; the door open, for it was still bolted j an intense volume of dense black smoke, .rushed out, driving me back. I did not see any flame ; but I noticed when I took hold of the bar, that it was wet from steam orvapour. I did not make any further attempt to get into the shop ; for the whole . of tiii?.: -back part was in flames just after 1 , had been driven off by the smoke. I left my shop on. Monday evening, about eight o'clock -r-t!ie usual; time of closing. The shop whs closed with .shutters and bar, there being a panel; cut; in one of 'lie shutters, which served as a door; and this was locked. After locking: the' : shop, I went to Mr Keid's, the chemist/ahd asked if there was any news of the' Panama mail, and I spoke for a few minutes; with. Mr il'Leod, of Patcrson's and M'Leod. I'then. walked down Princes street, ; Manse.'.street/'.the Arcade, and Kattray street, tothe steps, and so home. I did not again ■ leave..;tbe : house.-until I beard the alarm bell. I.had no. assistant in my business, and nobody sjeptorliTeddn the premises. The place could be' entered by a private door and passage; but'that door was locked. The only otlierentraiice was by the back door, which IliaVe mentioned. I left the shop in its-ordin'arjr.state on Monday night. I kept : theikerbseneii> the shop, regularly for retail sale, : , I.had ajin drum, with a tap inserted; -and-. I used to. fill, that drum from a tin of the oil. . I kept. "itiStandiiig beside a little place I.had fitted .as■ an office—it would stand as nearly as .possible just where the mark has been made. pri.the plan; and the drum, rested on-, an empty kerosene case, placed endwise; I. :.had the wooden cover of a nail-keg, which; I used to place over the drum; in froiit.of the office, and close to the left,of. tlieVdru.m, I had a coil of Manilla ,rope,, and some;--American and colonial tubs —half a':dozen,;perhaps, in all. On the right ; hand side (towards the hotel) there were three piles, of, American buckets, each about a dpzenliigli. .The glass door to the kitchen was.to the; right of the drum. A nest of American distance off, but in front of the:drum; and there were some American bvehs.and some clothes-pins near. ' There was; about, 3ft of space between the line of 'the' drum and the partition at the back of the. shop; and that gave room to passinto the little office, or to draw off kerosine for sale. The drum stood as I have ; described for the. last twelve months; when it wanted a supply, I took in a tin of kerosine and emptied it into the drum. I kept, for show, a;tin of kerosine, which stood close ; to the shopfdopr, and which I removed just inside when f closed at night. I filled the ker'osiiie drum on Monday last. I do not know, that there was in the place such a . piece of board or plank as I heard described by Joseph Miller, in his evidence. I had no siieu.pieee.iof stuff on the in the shelving—the shelving was of deal. I considermy stock was worth about £I2OO. I insured in the Victoria office for £3OO, about 9 ■months ago; and in January last, I insured for.£soo, in the.Alliance. I burned kerosene lamps in tiie'shop; and every evening after closing, I carried; the lamps to the back part, on the riglit-iian'd side, and put them on a shelf there; I turned down each lamp on Monday evening,' and I thought that each was out. Such.should have been the case. I sold kerosene;.; two or three times from the drum on Monday, and I rather think that the sale was during Monday evening. lam pretty sure I. sold two half gallons—one 1 recollect clearly.! The drum held five gallons —a tin, four gallons. The carpenter left the on Monday. There was nootiier inflammable liquid in (lie shop but kerosene; and no more of that than was in the drum, aud.tlie one tin standing close inside: the'shop floor. By Mr.M'Lean;.: When I opened the back door,.and.waß met by the smoke, Ipi ked up a kerosene case which stood just inside, and in which/there were some chickens. I then ran info the Octagon ; and on turning round there; I saw that: niy place—the whole block, ifl iiiiiysayso—was on fire. I did not save my books; ridr anything else. Yes, I have book debts. Their amount is £SO. I am entitled to say that T was in prosperous circumstances. My stock would have paid all my debts five or six times oyer—five times, I am sure.

13y thq Koremiin : I did not bunk anywhere. I have riot done so for eigliteen months. If I had 'banked I must hare left the shop and I had no.assistant. I paid accounts monthly, in bills.br casli. I made bills payable generally.at the Bantof Australasia. By Mr .lil'Lean: I had £6G in notes in my deskih .that.shop; I should have taken them away with hie, but when I was about to dp so there was a .'knock at the shutters. I went to see wiio.it was hut there was no one there. I forgot afterwards to remove the notes. By the Koreiiiiin: About two months ago I was.pressed, by Mr Finch for £l4. I told him that t was making up more than £2OO to meet a bill, and I explained the circumstances. He waited; Idid once speak to a man about a loan of £3O; but it was rather as a joke, to see if he would lend any. I did not want mi.ney, and i never did want money at all. Ineverspoke of interest, or of giving a bill of sale' over my stock. I can, I believe, substantiate that what I said was in joke. .. : By. Sir M'Leah: My total liabilities on Monday were a,-iittle over £IOO. By the Foreman: The goods I have boughtduring.the last three mouths represent almost the amount of my debts. My average takings recently have been about £IGO a nu'intliv ■'■ : By Mr M'Lean: I have always been—l was.ori .Monday—in good credit. In June last X.took, stock.. I estimated the value of my : stock.,tiien:'as about £I3OO. I had, ever sinceil. began business, been endeavouring to effect tlie £SOO insurance which I got in January last;■■'■■■ : '-' ; - By the Foreman: My rent was £4 a week; atid. for my ..private ho'ise I paid £6O a year. That is what I have been piyiug for the last five, months. Previous to that, 1 had been pay.iiig;:£2 lbs. for the shop, and lived in my dwii house, Five months ago? I took the shop that adjoined mine, and then I let my house. By Mr, Burke: Ido not smoke. The carpenter did not smoke during the time he was at work on Monday. By Mr Reynolds: It was not later than a quarter to nine when I got home on Monday evening, '■"''■'-' The inquiry was at eight o'clock, adjourned until -three, o'clock to-Jay (Friday).