THE LATE FIRE AT HAVELOCK.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 881, 5 October 1867, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE AT HAVELOCK.

An inquest was held yesterday, at the Havelock Hotel, beforeT. Hitchings,Esq., coroner, and a jury, upon the cause of the fire at the Exchange Hotel (Eeynolds 1 ) on the morning before. The following was the evidence adduced : — Thomas Eeynolds, being sworn, deposed: — I was the proprietor of the Exchange Hotel, Havelock. On Thursday morning, between 2 and 3 o'clock, I heard men calling out " Fire ! Eeynolds, get up ! " I was sleeping on the ground floor, adjoining the kitchen. On waking, I saw the under part of the third floor in a blaze. I called the men to come down stairs, and went out and called " Fire ! " I got my wife out and saved all I could. Three persons slept in my house that night. They went to bed about 12 o'clock. There were two fires burning when I went to bed — one in the tap-room and one in the kitchen. These fires are usual. My lodgers go to bed with candles. There was a kerosine lamp in the parlour, which I put out. The fire began on the. second story, where the lodgers slept. I kept no combustible matter in the house ; the kerosine was kept in an adjoining outhouse. I went to bed with perfect satisfaction that everything was safe. I was insured in all — furniture, stock, building and stabling— for £1,475. £295 worth, including stable, forage, saddlery, carpenters' tools, &c, were saved. I was insured in the North British Insurance, and I consider myself a loser by the fire. John Turner, being sworn, deposed : — I am a laborer; I was living with Mr. Eeynolds. I went to bed on the 2nd inst. at about 1 o'clock. I was woke up ; by. a suffocating smoke about 3 a.m. Mr. .Perret slept in the room with me, and I called him. We slept in an upper Story. I saw the fire apparently all round, par-, ticularly towards the back. I can offer no opinion as to the origin of the fire. Mr. Eeynolds kept all dangerously combustible matters in an out-house 20 yards from the house. I was obliged to make .

my escape through the window. Mr x ( jucks slept in an adjoining room, and was awoke by our talking. The jury (Mr. G-arry, foreman), after hearing the evidence, returned as their verdict that there was no evidence to prove the origin of the fire.