THE LAMBTON-QUAY FIRE

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 117, 15 November 1893, Page 3

THE LAMBTON-QUAY FIRE

♦ Mr. Ashoroft, District Coroner, held an inquest to-day as to the cause of the fire whioh destroyed the grocery warehouse of the late Mr. H. H. Tippler. Mr. Gray appeared for the insurance offices concerned ; Mr. Skerrett attended on behalf of the relatives of tha late Mr. Tippler; and Inspector Pendor for the police. Mr. T. Diokson was foreman of the jury. Edwin B. Meek, who was manager for Mr. Tippler, deposed that he looked up the store shortly before 11 o'oTook on the Saturday night, the 4th iDsfc., and left everything secure. He -visited the premises on Sunday morning, and got his cash-book out of the safe. As he left the back yard, he saw one of the men taking a horse from the stable. He was sure the place was quite safe when left it. He could not make any suggestion as to how the fire, which occurred that night, originated. Herbert Wyatt, who was in the employ of the late Mr. Tippler, gave evidence as to meeting the last witness while taking out the horse. There was no sign of fire abont the premises then. Percy Inge, nephew of Mr. Tippler, said he visited the shop on the night in question about 8.15. He turned on the gas and lit the burner at the foot of the stairs. He went upstairs to the closet, and did not light any other bnrner. He then went along the passage upstairs to the front room and got his gau, which was standing is a corner. There was sufficient light from the street lamps, and he had no occasion to strike a match. He came straight downstairs, and went into the office to get his cartridge-belt, and he thought he lighted a cigarette by the gas-jet either before or just after he left the office. Before leaving the premises he turned out the gas and left the store by the back door, which he securely locked. He thought he was only about 10 minutes in the building. A few minutes after he had left the chop, and whilst he was talking to Mr. Hales, a friend of his, at the foot of Woodward-street, they heard the fire-bells ringing, and, Bmelling burning wood, he became anxious, and, lushing towards his uncle's shop, he found the premises ablaze. The place was full of smoke, and neither he nor those who were assisting could do anything in consequence. His reason for getting his gun was that he intended shooting 1 at Karori noxt day. Captain Kemsley proved that he had looked over the cUbris since the fire, and had noticed nothing indicative of incendiarism. [Left sitting.]