Enquiry Into Fire at Ketemarae Hotel.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 2762, 3 July 1894, Page 2

Enquiry Into Fire at Ketemarae Hotel.

An enquiry into tbe circumstances connected with the burning of the Ketemarae fi Hotel was held at Normanby on Thursday j and Friday, before Mr F. H. Brett, J.P., r acting-coroner; and tbe following jury : — Messrs P. Dolan (foreman), B. Q. March, E. B. Bate>, G. Hall, T. Lloyd, and F. Sisley. Sergeant Stagpoole conducted the ' enquiry ; and Mr Barton appeared on bebalf of tbe licensee (Mr O'Brien), and Mr Welsh for tbe North Germ in Insurance Company. John O'Brien, licensed victualler, gave evidence much to same effect as has been previonsly published. He had business to attend to in Hawera, and left home about 8 a.m., and on returning after 10 o'olook found tbe bouse on fire. He stated that about worth of stuff was saved, including some blankets, spirits, cutlery, etc ; at that time be owed about i £120, but could have got money to meet it ; he had made arrangements to meet pressing demands; he never removed anything before he left;, there was; no fireplace in the npstaira parlor where 1 the fire originated ; there was a suite of, furniture, * etc., in the room ; • the chimney of the fireplace went up through or alongside the room; he was not in the room later than 1 or 2 o'clock, when be lit a fire for Mrs Matbieson ; a lamp was then lighted on tbe table ; he did not know if tbe lamp was extinguished, as be lefc the room-, before Mrs Matbieson ; ' the stock anijfc furniture were insured for L 250; b'ehadf more than that amonnc of stock; 'he insured it some time last year; nothing was removed from the bouse after he insured ; he could not account in any way for the fire ; he was aware the obincnev was foul, beoftUße it took fire about three months before. In answer to Mr Welsh, witness said that on the day ol tbe fire he had about L9O worth of liquors, groceries,- etc. [Witness gave particulars of liquors in stock, j ?. •■ To a juror— Did not report thechimney catching fire, because he did not think it necessary; he had it Bwept*. To Mr Barton—The fire lighted dp\yn. ( stairs at one o'olook, in tbe morning was a good strong fire, and waff lighted by his daughter ; it was alight when he left for Hawera; it was an open fireplace; his bnsineßß in Hawera on the day of fire was to settle a oaße with Mr O'Oonneli wbioh was to have come on -at 10 that day ; the oase was settled out of court. Kate P. O'Brien, daughter ot previous witness, was examined, and stated that her attention was called to the fire hy a native named Tame Tonga, who pointed I to an upstairs window, whence smoke was emerging. She. gave evidence as to the unavailing efforts made by herself and others to stop the progress of the fire. She knew nothing of' the origin of the fire, but in answer to Mr Welsh said the smoke looked to ba quite close to tbe obimnsy. Tame Tonga went, up a part of tbe stairs with her, bat they oonld not get up farther, owing to the smoke, and Tonga did not try to get up further. She did noc know whether the lamp whioh bad been alight in the parlor had been, put out. She had been very ill fora long time past. > < Tame Tonga, who resided at Ketemarae, near the hotel, stated thab be had his attention called to the fire by another native, who Baid that tbe chimney was on fire. Saw that it was not the chimney, that it was a serious fire, and he gave the alarm. He found on examination that tbe sitting room upstairs was on fire ; in company with Miss O'Brien he went up to the sitting-ioom ; the door was shut ; Miss O'Brien was behind him ; he tried to open the door, when Miss O'Brien caught hold of him by the collar; she gave no explanation of catching him by tha collar; kicked the door open, and saw tbe fire burning in the corner nearest to the stairs. There was ho fireplace in the room. There was no part of a chimney in the room ; the chimney ran outside the room. Tbe fire was burning on each Bide of tbe corner, and had reaobed the ceiling. Miss ' O'Brien all this time wasjpniling him away. Told her to go and call some of his people, but she said " No," they had better go together. Told her to tell the natives to get a rope and be would stick at the window and draw the water. If they had rope and water tbe fire conld be put ont. Miss O'Brien prevented him doing' anything. Went downstairs, and some of his people were there, and Miss O'Brien was crying downstairs, and sha then asked him to try and 'put the fire out. He called on his friends to assist him. Witness then detailed at considerable length the action he took, and on. some point's contradioted himself. In concluding bis evidence' in chief he said that when' be first saw the fire four or five backets ' ot water would have put it out. If he had ased force with the girl he might have hurt ber, and got into trouble. i „ In cross-examination witness corrected himself on some points ; be owed O'Brien £4: 155, but denied that be was angry with O'Brien for demanding his money. Admitted having been brought up on a charge of larceny of JJ4O, bat was acquitted ; on another occasion ■ was oharged with stealing .£l4 from a halfcaste, but got off. Joseph Wilson, owner of the premises, j stated that the bouße.had been built about 15 l years; the ' chimney ' was re-built in 1891 and was T good ; he bad never seen a chimney look so good after a fire. Witness gave evidence and put in correspondence with respect to O'Brien's finanoial position. He knew that O'Brien had an oiler of £100 three months ago for tha goodwill, and had heard that be was also offered £150 but wanted £200. On tbe date of the fiie O'Brien's lease had 4 years to run. Henry Bamsay gave evidence that when he arrived at the fire he saw Miss ' O'Brien coming from the staircase; apparently blinded with the smoke. ' Saw ' no natives at the hotel, but Baw them rushing acroßS tbe road to it. Ernest Lewis, watchmaker, Eltham, stated that he called at tbe bouse atiout half-past nine and tsotioed nothing unnsnal then. He was on his way to Hawera, where be subsequently heard of tbe fire. ' Chatted 4 or 5 minutes with Miss O'Brien ; saw nothing unusual in her manner. A native named Tura gave evidence, and said be went upstairs when the fire was going on, bat did not see the girl hindering Tame Tonga in any way. Mary Blake swore that she went up to (be top of tbe stairs with Mien O'Brien, bat the smoke was too great, and they had to go down again; Tame Tonga was behind them; neither of them canght him or palled him baok. C. E. Major, agent for tbe North German Insurance Company, with whom , O'Brien had a policy of; £250— £150 on the l TurnHure ;tand;.£loo; t and;. £100 on the stock — end for his' own knowledge he oonsidered tbe risk a ; good one when taken. The premium would not be due until next Visited tbe rooinV downstairs, pot, upstairs. ; ' 'After remarks from counsel the jory T fpntfd;that there was no- evidence to show how tbe fire originated.