THE SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL FIRE.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5830, 21 May 1884, Page 5

THE SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL FIRE.

An inquest to enquire into the circumstances attending the fire which destroyed, in April last, the Spread Eagle Hotel, situated at the Ashburton Forks, was held at the Ashburton R.M. Court yesterday, before Mr Baddeley, E.M., and a jury of whom Mr S. Alcorn was chosen foreman. Mr F. Wilding appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the mortgagees and the owner of the property (Philipp Tisch). Philipp Tisch, at present residing at Avonside, Christchurch, gave evidence to the effect thathehad owned the property for about nine years, and that at various times the hotel had been let to three different tenants, and that he (witness) had been in the occupation of the premises himself about five years. In January last the house was in the occupation of L. T. Washer. Washer became bankrupt, and witnes3 distrained for the sum of £90 then owing by Washer to witness. A few days after the seizure the furniture, stock-in-trade, &c, were insured in the Standard Office for the sum of £350, this amount being based on a valuation made some time previous by Mr Alfred Harrison, of Ashburton. Subsequently Joseph Baldwin was put in possession of the house as bailiff for witness, and afterwards as tenant, and became the temporary licensee. Witness had reason to be dissatisfied with Baldwin and gave him notice to leave, intending to resume occupation of the hotel himself. Witness was at the hotel on April 28th, and brought Mrs Baldwin away, leaving Joseph Baldwin and a man named Robertson in possession of the hotel. The house was mortgaged for .£4OO, and witness believed the mortgagees had insured the house for an additional £600, as he (witness) was in the habit of paying to the mortgagees .£lB per year by way of premium. The house was destroyed by fire on April 29th, and witness estimated his loss at about ,£351 2s, for which amount he subsequently sent in a claim to the Standard Insurance Company. The piano and several other articles of furniture were saved from the fire. The piano was saved, and not claimed for in the statement ef articles sent to the insurance office. Except that Baldwin might have taken offence at having notice to leave, witness was, as far as he knew, on good terms with Baldwin. A. Clayton Fenwick, clerk in the Union Insurance office, Christchurch, gave evidence to two policies of insurance having been effected on the Spread Eagle Hotel in the Union office, one for j>3oo and the other for £600. Archibald Scott, manager of. the Standard Insurance Company, gave evidence as to the insurance on the lurniture, stock, &c, and the claim sent in by Tisch. Joseph Baldwin gave evidence to going into the hotel on January 2nd as bailiff for Philipp Tisch, and to having subsequently agreed to lease the house and furniture from Tiseh at a rental of £100 per annum. Witness and the barman slept in the house on the 28th ApriL He slept downstairs, and about 6.30 a.m. he lighted the fire in the kitchen, and after breakfast witness went into the bar. Soon after this an alarm of fire was given by the barman, and witness went upstairs and discovered the fire in a room over the kitchen. This was about 9 a.m. Witness was the only person who had been in the kitchen that morning, and a quarter of an hour after witness left the kitchen the barman gave the alarm of fire. A piano, two and some chairs were saved from the fire. Witness had iun short of stock two or three weeks previous to the fire, but Tisch had sent a stock of spirits, wines, &c, just previous to the fire, and at the time the hotel was destroyed the stock of spirits, wines, and beer was werth about £30. A lease had been drawn up but not signed, and witness had paid no rent during the three months he had occupied the hotel. [The case was still proceeding when our despatch left Ashburton.]