INQUEST AT ROTORUA.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XV, Issue 2153, 22 June 1887, Page 4

INQUEST AT ROTORUA.

An inquest touching the fire at Mrs Young's housG at Botorua, was held, on June 4th, before H. W. Brabant, Esq., Coroner, and the following jury: A. P. Home, foreman, andH. Larkin, M. J. Kean, E. Robertson, CM. Wilson, and J. McFadyen. The following is the evidence : — John H. Taylor, Insurance Agent, being sworn, deposed : — "On the 20th of July, 1885, I insured Mrs You a g-'s property for twelve months. I insured the following year i'or her, and she paid me the money. The goods saved I value at £33. Catherine Young, boarding-house keeper/sworn: — When I left the house I left a fire in the stove in the kitchen. I went to wash. When I left my two daughters and two boarders were in the house. They all went away about one o'clock. About an hour after I saw smoke rising from the back of the house. I tried to get in but oould not because the Mtehen was in flames. I lost £20 in notes and 3 sovereigns. Hector McLean, sworn : — I was at the Palace Hotel. I saw Mrs Young, and heard her crying, "Fire — for God's sake run." I ran to tho scene and saw flames coming; from the back, I was first on the scene, folio-wed hy a bullock driver and Mrs Young. James Bishop, bullock-driver, sworn — About two o'clock I was returning from the Sanatorium, and saw Mrs Young's house on fire. The flames were bursting through the roof.