FIRES AT AN HOTEL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 October 1924, Page 5

FIRES AT AN HOTEL.

INQUIRY AS TO CAUSE. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Oct. 16. The cause of the series of outbreaks of fire at the Albert Hotel on September 19 was inquired into by the Magistrate (Mr E. Page) to-day. Fire Superintendent Tait said that on the night in question the first call, for an outbreak in the cellar came at 9.45. The second call at 11.40 was to a fire in a bedroom. A few minutes later smoke iwas seen issuing from two other bedrooms. The three fifes were of such a nature as to suggest incendiarism. Fireman McJennett , who was on duty after the first outbreak in the cellar, said that Mrs. Haydon, wife of the license#., asked him on three or four occasions if he was going to stop there all night. Later there was a. cry of fire. He found a. wall ablaze in bedroom No. 20. He was then told that room 25 was on fire, and a few minutes later No. 24 was found to be alight. Haydon was about the premises till about 3 a.m. Thomas Dwan said that the firm of Dwan Bros were the lessees of the Albert Hotel, which had since been sold. The business was not successful under Haydon’s management,, and he had been notified that his services were no longer required. The new licensee was to take over on September 21. On the night of the fire Haydon rang him up and said that he had had legal advice and wanted to talk with witness. He thought they were not anxious to go out. Witness’ room at the hotel was No. 20. When he went away the key was kept in the hall. George Haydon. the licensee, declared that the burning of the hotel ••ould not possibly be of any benefit to him. He did not remember remarking that it was a pity the nlace was not burnt down long ago. Though the fires in the bedrooms appeared to have been deliberate, witness had no theory as to their origin. The finding of a four-gallon tin of kerosene in the kitchen after the fires was desci’ibed by Fritz Tinnev. chef at the hotel. The inquiry was adjourned.