THE LATE FIRE AT THE SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL, ASHBURTON FORKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7246, 21 May 1884, Page 3

THE LATE FIRE AT THE SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL, ASHBURTON FORKS.

The Inquiry. An inquiry into the circumstances attending the fire at the Spread Eagle Hotel, Ashburton Forks, which occurred on April 29 last; was held yesterday, before H. 0. S. Baddeley, Esq., E.M., and a jury, of whom Mr S. W. Alcorn was chosen foreman. Mr F. Wilding watched the case for the mortgagees of the property, and for Mr P. Tisch, the owner of the building. Phillip Tisch, now living at Avonside, Christchurch, said the Spread Eagle Hotel was his property, and was erected nine years ago. It was his property when it was burned, and Joseph Baldwin was the licensee, witness having retired from business two years ago. The house was insured by his lawyer at that time, but the furniture was not insured. Had since insured the furniture in the Standard, Christchurch. Did that in January last—.£27o on furniture, £3O on a piano, and £SO on stock-in-trade. The amounts were got at from a valuation made two and a half years ago by Mr Harrison, auctioneer, Ashburton. At that time Yinsen, then lessee,, paid witness £340 in cash for the stock and furniture, and T. L. Washer subsequently purchased from Yinsen for £4OO. In January witness distrained for £l2O, rent and expenses, when Washer became bankrupt. Took over the furniture then in satisfaction of the claim, there being no stock. Effected the insurance a few days afterwards. Some of the furniture had been in the house since it was first built. Made a claim upon the Standard office for the furniture and stock destroyed by the fire. Based the amount of claim upon Harrison’s valuation and the bailiff’s. Was at the hotel in December last, but did not go over all the house. Saw some of the furniture claimed for. In the commercial room there were 18 yards of cocoa matting that had cost 6s per yard. When witness had the house there were 20 bedrooms. There were £2O worth of sundries about the house and passages, over and above the contents of the bedrooms. The valuation of the goods in the house at £359 2s is a fair one, and estimated his own loss at £351 2s. Could not check the statement of claim, as he could not read Epglish writing, being a German. The statement had been made up in Mr Wilding’s office from a verbal statement made by witness. The property saved was six chairs, two sofas, and a table, worth in all £B. The table was a mahogany one, and stood in the commercial room—the table valued in the valuation at £6. The sofas were a horse hair one, and one covered with leather. These were amongst the goods seized for rent. Seized them in satisfaction of £l2O, and insured them for £3OO, for which sum they had previously been insured for two years. As the stock had been previously insured for £IOO, but was then very low, insured it for £SO. The house was mortgaged for £4OO, and cost £I4OO. The mortgagee insured it for £6OO, for which sum paid the premium to the mortgagee—£lß per annum. W. E. Mitchell got the money. The house was let for £IBO per annum, and Yinsen paid it in full, but Washer,* after paying the first half year, failed, and his furniture was seized for the rest. Baldwin paid no rent, but was there as a tenant. There was more stock in the house than was mentioned in the Est. Was at Ashburton when the fire happened, but had been at the hotel for two or three hours the day before. Brought away Mrs Baldwin and the children. Left Baldwin at the house, and Eobert Eoberts, a servant of witness. The reason why Mrs Baldwin and children were brought down was that Baldwin was to have left several days before, but he always made an excuse that his wife could not go down without a conveyance. To get over that difficulty took her down himself. Her furniture was not taken away, but was packed up. It was not furniture, but wearing apparel, that was packed up. Did not see any furniture belonging to the Baldwins. The height of the ceiling of the lean-to (the kitchen) from the top of the fireplace would be about 6ft, and the range was an ordinary cooking range with oven and boiler. From the top of the range to the arch of the chimney would be about 2ft. The ceiling was of match-lining, and the chimney of brick. The business done at the hotel, so far as witness knew, was not much. There were two houses within a mile of the hotel, and three stations within three miles. There was a bit of land attached to the hotel, but the land was shingly and worthless. When the house was built there were no railways in the district, but the opening of the Methven and Mount Somers railways had diverted the wool traffic that used to pass the house. A very miich smaller house would now meet all the wants of the district. About six or seven years ago the house had to be added to at a cost of £4oo‘because the Licensing Committee had ordered it. Witness could make money in the house, but a man who went into Ashburton and spent £1 every day could not. By Mr Wilding: Yinsen, a previous tenant, was financed by the Standard Brewery Company, and sold out to Washer for £SOO. Washer filed, and B. Hughes was trustee in the estate. Hughes did not pay witness out. Baldwin -was authorised ■to carry on the business in witness’ name, and continued there as witness’ Bailiff. The trustee not being in a position to pay witness out, it was arranged witness should keep the furniture. Baldwin was to have a lease, but was not to buy the furniture. At the time of the fire Baldwin was under notice to clear out. Baldwin had been in as tenant for three months when the fire happened. He had the contract for carrying the mail, which necessitated his absence two days in the week, and on that account he was not a satisfactory tenant. Had instructed solicitors in Ashburton to take proceedings against Baldwin. Was, as a matter of fact, going into the hotel with a daughter, knowing that a steady man could get a living. Had no wish to get any more from the insurance than had actually been lost. Washer had been insured for £4OO, and the policy was about to run out. Simply renewed Washer’s insurance, but reduced the amount insured. There were 27 rooms in the hoteL Harrison, the auctioneer, said the furniture could hot be replaced for £3OO. This was in January the police: Did not know that any statement of loss was wanted until told so by Mr Wilding. Had been bankrupt, and Mr Shoolbred took over the house in January, but finding that 20s m the pound could be paid, the house was taken over again. Seven years ago lost £12,000. Hanmer and Harper would not let him go through the Court, if the creditors would not interfere with the land ; and Hyam Marks took over the Alford Forest Hotel and the rest of the property.but bought back the estate for £3OOO odd. By the Foreman: As far as he knew he

was on friendly terms with Baldwin, whoy however, may have taken offence at getting notice to quit. The blacksmith’s shop and cottage, occupied by Campbell, are not included in the insurance. Washer's trustee gave no reason for not taking the furniture instead of lotting witness have it. - Alfred Clayton Fenwick, clerk in the Union Insurance office, Christchurch, produced policy of insurance tor £3OO on the building, effected by Phillip Tisch. Sergeant Felton called attention to- the fact that Mr Tisch had sworn that he was totally ignorant of any insurance beyond .£(100. Mr Wilding pointed out that the policy had been effected by Mr George Swann in Mr Tisch’s name, and that therefore Mr Tisch’s evidence was quite correct. Witness went on: He could not say if Tisch had applied for this insurance, which was effected on July 17, 1882, and transferred on August 17 to Mr W. E. Mitchell, by Mr Tisch’s agent, Mr George Swann. Phillip Tisch, re-called, said he did not know of his own knowledge in what offices the house was insured, but paid .£lB per annum.

Archibald Scott, manager for the Standard Insurance Company, Christchurch, said the policy produced on the furniture and effects in the Spread Eagle Hotel was effected by Phillip Tisch, and had been, claimed upon by him. Never saw the furniture; could not say if it was inspected, and did not see Mr Tisch when he made the proposal. Produced the original proposal, which was made by Tisch himself. Joseph Baldwin: Went to the Spread Eagle on Jan. 2 as Tisch’s bailiff, and about Jan. 18 agreed to lease the house and furniture, becoming the licensee temporarily. Occupied the house till April 29, the day of tho lire. On the night before the fire occurred—April 28 —slept in the house, as did also Tisch’s servant, Eohert Eoberts. Eose about 6 o’clock on April 28, and chopped the wood to light the fire and made the breakfast. Had breakfast in the dining-room, and afterwards made up the fire again and put on the kettle, and then went and sat down in the bar, where Eoberts was cleaning up. Eoberts left the bar for a very few minutes, and then came hack, saying the house was on fire. He then ran out, and witness followed. Saw smoke coming from the. passage upstairs, and went up. Looked into two rooms, but saw no very great quantity of smoke. In the third room on the left hand side there was a great deal. The kitchen chimney ran up through that and another room. Tisch’s man came up with a bucket of water, which he threw where he thought the fire was. Witness went into the nearest rooms for the water jugs, and threw eight jugs, of water in the room where the fire was. When all the water had been used they could get, they saw the flames rising up to the ceiling of the dining-room; and seeing that it was hopeless to put out the fire they went downstairs to save what they could. The fire in the range was of wood and coal. The highest part of the leanto would he about 9ft from the floor. The flames were close to the chimney, and appeared as if they had come from there. Could form no opinion as to Jiow long the fire had been burning. Between breakfast and the discovery of tho fire there would have elapsed an hour and a half, the fire being discovered at about 9 o’clock. Had been in the kitchen about 15 minutes before the alarm. Had not signed any agreement with Tisch to take the house. Part of the time witness was at the Spread Eagle he was Tisch’s servant, but the remainder of the time considered himself landlord —from Jan. 20 to April 29. Had paid no rent because it was not due, but did enough business to pay the rent out of the profits. There was a good deal booked. Tisch supplied him with the first stock—about .£3o—-and the rest came, some from town, some from Ashburton. Did not pay Mr Tisch for this stock. Mr Tisch was not satisfied with the way the house was conducted, and required an explanation, with which he was satisfied. Would have left a week sooner than he did, but remained long enough to comply with the Licensing Act. Did not keep an account of the last month’s takings, but within the last fortnight ran very short of stock. Was half the time away during the last fortnight, and Andrew Wood kept the place. The money was left in the tiU, and not always taken out at night. Sometimes the business was very poor. Produced a list of everything in the house, taken from the bailiff’s inventory. There were eleven bedrooms upstairs and four downstairs, nearly all furnished with iron bedsteads, and complete sets of, bedding and necessaries of a bedroom. Some of the furniture was very good, and some was not so good—the best toilet table and washstand would he worth 255, and the best toilet sets would be worth 155,. and everything was in fair condition. Mr Tisch’s claim for stock lost was quite correct, and witness corroborated Tisch’s evidence as to what had been saved from the fire. To re-fumish. the hotel anew would cost about -6350. There were always large fires at the Eagle, and the chimney was not swept while witness was there.

Alfred Harrison, auctioneer, could not re-call particulars of the valuation he made for Vinsen, but five months ago he saw the hotel and thought it fairly furnished. When he went up to sell for rent thoiight there was sufficient for the purpose. The goods would have been value for the rent, even if sold at the hotel. ' Bartholomew Hughes, who had been trustee in Washer’s estate, gave evidence as to the furniture in each room when he made an inventory, and his value was .£137 14s lOd. Put down five pictures (prints) at about 10s for the lot. Did not see any books, except some old London Journals, which he did not value. Had not been an auctioneer nor a valuator, but had made the inventory and valuation at the suggestion of Mr Washer. Washer told him that he did not want to carry on the house, but gave no reason for having the valuation made, and witness had also said to Washer there was no reason for doing it, but for his own satisfaction had made the list. Had had as much experience as most men in Canterbury as to the value of general goods. In making his valuation was guided by the value Washer put on the goods and by his own knowledge of what the goods would be likely to bring, and what they would be worth to a man hiking the hotel. There was no dividend in Washer’s estate, there being a bill of sale over the assets to the Standard Brewery. The only thing sold out of the estate to Tisch was whatever interest as trustee witness may have had in the lease and the license, but this did not affect Washer’s interest in the furniture. Received for this interest from Tisch JBI. Tisch never gave him a penny beyond that jBl, and witness went to Tisch’s house and told him that witness had never got the j6l. Was paid afterwards by Harrison. Felt that a broad hint given by Tisch that he might give him £5 was a bribe to keep back certain things from sale. [Loft sitting.]