THE GRAND HOTEL EIRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 5

THE GRAND HOTEL EIRE.

A STARTLING STATEMENT. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND’ June 18. Sensational evidence was given -at -the inquest touching the Grand Hotel fire' today. ; A--..-. - Johnston, the licensee, said-tliat it was his opinion that the; fire'started 1 in jibe ’,di-ft- q ing-room, and was ridlftflly caused.' ‘ “

Sub-Inspector Mitchell said; “That is a very grave statement,.and amounts to charging someone with murder.” , Johnston said the servants who slept directly under the dining-room were- awakened by glass falling from the window above them. .They left their bedrooms to see where the fire was, and returned to their rooms to secure their effects. In the meantime the ceiling above them. fell. This, and what he saw .himself, influenced his belief that the firs started in the dining-room, and not in the kitchen. His reason for thinking that the fire was wilfully caused was that •the French windows leading from the balcony into the dining-room had not been dodked tnat night, and the keys,of the doer leading from the dining-room into the passage opposite and the pantry had been missing since the Tuesday before the fire. A light was kept burning in the pantry; and was unaccountably extinguished’at midnight before the fire. . Johnston, on being pressed-, said he had another reason, but might ,be sued for slander. The Coroner said that what witness stated would be -privileged. Witness -retired to consult his solicitor, and decided to say nothing further on. this point. Mr Johnston, on being further pressed referred to the action for slander brought by his wife against an employee in March, which had been then, adjourned, and discontinued .since the fire. , The Coroner said there was nothing in all this. , The chief cook, Madame Waters, seated that on the night of the fire she heard scuffling and quarrelling in the diningroom, and -a man’s voice calling cut-, “ Where are you?.- Where are the keys?” On-going -out -to investigate she saw strange men in the passage, who hid their faces from her. The night porter,. Jones, Was the only other witness called. He denied .the presence of strangers on the -premises, and stated that he had heard ni> noise as of men quarrelling, as alleged by Madame Waters. The inquiry was -then adjourned till June. 27.