THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1866. INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 134, 9 August 1866, Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1866. INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

At half-past 2 o'clock j esterday this inquiry was resumed. W. C. Davis sworn, said : I was one of the special constables at the .fire. I was on duty with Constable Fitzgerald at 2 o'clock. We got to Mr. M'Gee's corner as the clock struck 3. I saw no light in the window then. I walked to the Trafalgar corner and stood there' 2o minutes. On looking up the street I saw a cloud of smoke and immediately after heard the cry of fire. I mn up the street and blew my whistle Fitzgerald ran to the lock-up. I ran to the back and handed a ladder to some men who cried out for help from a window in Colling-wood-strect. I think it was the second window from Bridge-street, in the upper story. I got the ladder at the back of M'Gee's and placed it against the window. The men threw out their swags and came down. I then shifted the ladder to two more windows in Bridge-street, and men came down from each. I then searched the room but the smoke cornpolled me to return. I first saw the fire in the far corner window in Collingwood-street. When I got there rlie fire was blazing. To the Jury: I found the ladder near the site of the new billiard room. I saw no one in the street but Mr. Condell tiil after the alarm of fire was given. I saw no appearance of fire when I went to the back of the house for the ladder. I saw a reflection from the bhize hi the corner window. In a few minutes after the whole house was in a blaze. Constable W. Fitzgerald sworn : I was on duty with the last witness on the night of the fire. About halfpast 3 yesterday morning I saw a flush of light at M'Gee's hotel. I and Davis sounded our Avhistles. I ran to the watch-house and leit Davis to rouse the people of the hotel. We saw the fire proceeeding from the upper story of the last window in Colling-wood-t.treet. On arriving at the watch house it was 25 minutes past 3. The only person I saw in the street was Mr. Condell. Charles Knight, sworn : lam a plasterer, residing in Bridge-street. I heard the cry of fire early on Tuesday morning, and went to where I saw the reflection of fire. The first person I saw was Condell, whom I advised to take the property from his house, as it was sure to go. He said he hud all tlmt he could remove. I went to the back of M'Gee's house and saw the flames issuing from the back, where I went. I burst open the back door with a rail. Seeing no one inside I returned. On seeing n plan of the house, the witness described tha door he burst open. He said he got his haird burnt in opening the door. The flames were, issuing from the upper corner, on the left hand "side "of the door. I heard the cry of fire when in bed, and immediately got up. I saw flames coming from the windows of the upper corner of the house. I found a- pair of trousers but I did not see Mr. M'Gee. I saw no flames as I was going up Collingwood-street, further than reflection of fire. To the Jury : I did not see any flames in the window in Collingwood-street. The fire I saw was as likely to originate in Porthouse's as M'Gee's. There was some silver in the trousers I found, which I handed to a person to take care of. Mr. M'Gee recalled: I am certain my wife went out first. I went out with the last child. I got burnt on the head. I brought down my trousers it appears, and dropped them in the yard. I don't remember bringing them down. Thomas Horton sworn: I am a porter in Colling-wood-street. Mr. M'Gee called me up yesterday morning. I ran out and went to the back of the hotel. I saw fire between the passage door and the kitchen door. I rushed through the passage door into the bar and began to take things out. I and two others rushed the door. I won't sAvear that it was burst open. I saw smoke coming out of the upstair window looking into Collingwood-street as I passed along. The fire between the two doors appeared to be about the second panel of the building, between the outside and the inside lining. The wind was 100 strong to let the fire come out. By panel I mean the weatherboard. I saw some fire on the ground. I can't say if it dropped there from the burning building. The Coroner having read the evidence and commented on it, left the case to the jury. The Court was cleared whilst the jury deliberated. In a few minutes they found, That the Nelson Hotel was burnt on the morning of the 7th August, between the hours of 3 and 4 o'clock, and we believe that the fire arose by accident. .