A QUEEN-STREET FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 222, 19 September 1893, Page 5

A QUEEN-STREET FIRE.

INQUEST TO-DAY,

AN OPEN VERDICT.

This morning, an inquest was held at the Oriental Hotel, Queen-street, before Dr. Philson (coroner) and a jury of six, to inquiro iuto the origin of the fire on the premises of tbe Sydenham Tailoring establishment, Queen-street, which occurred on the nighb of the 10th September.

The following geublemen comprised the jury :—\Vm. Gulliver (foroman), Frodk. Nicklin, Geo. F. Hill. Harry Collins, D. N. Carter, and Xhos. McEwin.

Mr A. E. Whitaker, solicitor, conducted the inquiry on bohalf ot the police, and Sergts. Gamble and Mackay.

Mr Geo. Johnstone (Straits Insurance Co.), and Mr G. S. Graham (North German Insurance Co.), wero also present. Mr C. M. Calder watched the proceedings on behalf of Mr B. Kurts,jjmanager of the Sydonham Tailoring Establishment.

Superintendent John Hughes, of tho Auckland Fire Brigade, was the first witness called. Be was examined by Mr Whibaker, and deposed that Monday, tho 11th September, was tho la3t time that ho was upon the premises where tho tiro occurred. The fire broke out on the night previous, the alarm being given at 10.35. Witness was on the spot at 10.40, v/hon he burst the door open." He gob the hose pub in the promises, and extinguished the tire. Witness enterod the fchop about three or four feot, and saw (ire on Che floor. The fire originated underneath the counter. On examining the debris, witness found pieces of dummies and Clippings of cloth and paper. [Wibness explained that dummies were wooden rolls on which cloth was wound.] The witness was further examined. , Ho deposed that tbo door between the shop and tho adjoining room was closed, bub he could not say if it wub locked. The back door of the premises loading into the yard was locked and witnoss had both doors burst open. Witness did not perceive a smeil of gas. There was no lire under tho second counter in tho shop. Tho space be bwaen tho two counters was filled up with tinibor but they had no cloth upon them. Witness obsorvod no material cut for making up, but he saw an order book opon on tho bales of cloth whero Hie iiro occurred.

Mr Whitaker: Did you perceive any thing to show caiife how the (iro originated,

Witness : Nobbing. Witness statod in unswor to Mr Caldor that ho mado his inspection immediately after the lire occuirod. Tho building was full of RinoUo and ho had to mako tho men lay down. Witness furthor said that ho did not umcll korosoue.

Bernard Kurte, manager of theSydcnlinra Tailoring Establishment, deposed that lio was a tailor and resided at (irafton lload. lie v/os not present at tho fire. Ho was ao homo that night. Ho waa last on tho premises butwecn two and five o'clock on Sunday 10t!i, and was engaged cutting cloLii for ranking up, on tho countor nearest to Queen-street. That was about eight foot from whsro tho lire originated. He waa smoking whilst) at work. Witness further stated tho material thab he was cutting; ho loft on tho countor, and on leaving tho premises ho bolievod the back door wan locked. Tho door between tho shop and tho inner room waa locked. Ho had no lire on the premises that day, and afc tho spot whoro thu tiro occurred there wero woodon dummies and papor clippings. lie could not account for tho origin of tho firo. Tho stock and fittings wore insured in the North German office for £200, and in the Straits Insurance Company for £300. A valuation had baen mndo sinco tho fire. Tho valution of Hi a damngo was estimated at £136. None of his workmen wero on tho premises on the .Sunday. Tho original value of tho stock as assossed by tho arbitrators waa £420. Tho amount of his claim to tho insurance companies was £471 3s. Tho Coroner : Wore there any incendiary rats on the premises. Witnoas : 1 cannot say. Tho Corouor : You do not suspect tho rats ? Witness :NoI do not. How can a man : possibly suspect a rat '! Tlio Foreman : Wero you in tho habit of going to tho ."hop on Sunday 1

Witness : Yes. I was in tlio habic of working in tbo shop on Sundnv. Foreman : Are you sura that you threw tho match on the floor. Witnoss : i Tcs ;on tho middle of tho floor—clonr of all rubbish, I was always i careful in matters of lire. Had never been burnt out before. In answer to further questions, tho wifej ness explained that his stock waa a fluctuating ono, imd in a fow months j might bo worth £800. Tho inifmrance companies woro nwaro that { (.lie stock was n fluctuating one. ! Mr Whitakor eak! that was tha wholo of tho ovklonce. Cnpts. Fiold, of tho Salvage Corps, w.'ifl unablo to bo present through illness, but ho could only corroborate the evidence of Supt. Hughes. Tlin jury them considered their verdict. After deliberation, Mr Kurts wag recalled, and in.answer ho a question by tho foreman of the jury, said that the work ho had been cutting on tho Sunday afternoon was left on the counter. The foreman montioned that Mr Hughes Stntod in liia ovidenco that there was no material upon the counter, Mr Korta said he was certain ho left the work tbcro, and tho policeuinn in charge could bear him out in this statement. In answer to the Coroner, tho Foreman stated that their verdict was that the tiro had been caused accidentally, but there waa [ nothing to show bow ie occureiJ. ) Dr. i'hilson said the jury could not brin}; in this verdict and he thought it would bo better for them to say that tho fire occurred but thoro waa no reason to show how it originated. Tho suggestion of tho Coronor was adopted by the jury,andan opon verdict roturnod.