THE HAWERA FIRE. FATAL LEAP BY MR. CAVERHILL.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 53, 2 September 1895, Page 2

THE HA W ERA FIRE. FATAL LEAP BY MR. CAVERHILL.

(.BT TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Hawera, 31st August. An inquest concerning the ciroumstanoes under whioh W. J. Caverhill and A. Tourner loat their lives in the Hawera fire was held to-day before Mr. Nolan, Aoting-Coroner, and a jury. John A. Campbell (manager for Mr. C. Smith, draper), who waa engaged at about 12 30 stock-taking with Mr. Jewell, said ho heard a roport aa of a lamp glass cracking, and rushing to the window he saw a board on which a lamp was placed gradually coming down. The lamp fell into the window when he was about 12 feet away. The window contained ourtains, mercery, &o. He threw an overcoat on the flames. The shop was in flames in what appeared four or five soconds. Jewell waa not drunk off that night. He had had a glaßs, but waa not sober and not drunk. A juror asked the reason for the witness working so late at night — whethor it was through an overplus of work or through Mr. Jewell not attending to hia duty during the day ? — The witness Baid it was due to Jewell not attending regularly to work. C. Jewoll deposed that when tho lamp fell he waa rolling flannel in the shop. Campbell called out, " Run out and give the alarm," and witness rushed oat and called " Fire," and ran baok to the shop to see if anything could be done. Campbell was sober and so was witness. Witness had had two glasses of beer during the ovening. If a statement had been made that he was not sober it was not true. Christopher Smith, draper, Wellington, Baid there would be about £3000 worth of stock in the shop. Witness was a loser to tho extent of about £2500. J. W. Kelly, proprietor of the Egmont Hotol, gave evidence as to Caverhill and Tourner being lodgers at his hotel on Thursday evening. Both knew the house well, and would have been able to esoape ; but he thought there must have been unnecessary dolay in giving tho alarm. There were no lamps alight in the passages of the hotel. There was a drop of 2ft Gin from the window of tho room in which Caverbill slept on to the lantern roof of tho billiard-room, and from the position in which Caverhill was found he must have jumped through and fallen into the billiard-room and have been killed. Witness was a losor to tho amount of £3000. Joseph Dixon, barman at tho Kgmont Hotel, and J. Wilkinson, billiard-marker, woro also examined, 'lbo latter said ho always looked the billiard-room door, and if anyone fell into the billiard-room he could not have esoaped. Dixon said that in going round tho hotel to arouse tho lodgers he found tho doora of Moaara. Caverhill and Tourner looked on the inside, and kioked at them, but reooivod no answer. He did not tell anyone beoauso he did not know tlioy had not slipped out of tho window. After other ovidenoe, tho jury found that and tho deaths wore caused by accidental fire, added a rider recommending more stringent precautions in hotels for tho protection of ifo and property, in the way of lights, alarm bolls, escape ladders, and the employment of night portora; that a water supply would have provonted much damage; that party

walls should be of briok, and the fire brigade better equipped. This Dat. Subscriptions are being raiaed in aid of Mr. Caverhill's family.