FIRE INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3929, 16 June 1874, Page 2

FIRE INQUEST.

A Cor oxer's enquiry into the origin of tlie lire which lately occurred oil the premises in Queen-street, occupied by Mr. Edward Watters (confectioner), was held in the Auckland Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Dr. Philson and a jury of thirteen. The usual preliminaries having been gone through, evidence was taken.—lsaac Harrison deposed that he was a tobacconist cann hig on business in the next building to that occupied by Mr. Watters. On Wednesday evening last v. itness discovered that Mr. Watters' bakehouse was on firo. Mr. Cromwell aud witness obtained water. Went inside the house through the window, and extinguished the lire. The fire had laid hold of a box which stood a short distance from the furnace door. There was nothing oil" fire except the box and some sacking which was piled on the top of it. On a former occasion witness knew that the wood in the oven had caught fire, and had been informed that it had once before been 011 fire.—-John Cromwell gave similar evidence.—Detective Jeffrey stated in his evidence that he believed the fire originated inside the box, and not from the outside. The sides of the provimrbox were protected by pieces of tin, and there were bricks and cinders on the bottom of it. The box was used for steaming buns. Witness considered the arrangement was a very dangerous one. He was certain that the fire did not originate from a spark from the furnace.—Edward Watters deposed that before he left the premises on Wednesday last he went into the bakehouse, but did nu* observe any fire or smouldering. The premises were insured at the time of the fire, but since then the insurance had been cancelled. The prov-ing-box had been-used for six years, ancl witness did not consider it particularly dangerous to use it. The same box was used on the following morning ; since then a brick place had been built to answer the purpose. The stock, furniture and improvements, were insured for £350.—James McLean, a baker in the employ of Mr. Watters, stated that he had used embers in the proving-box to steam the buns. The box had been on lire once before, when it was extinguished before it blazed. There was no danger connected with the present contrivance for steaming.—John Cazali, an assistant, was also examined.— James B. Graham, solicitor, stated that he was present at the late fire, and saw a quantity of cinders in the bottom of the proving-box. He had no doubt but that the fire originated from the cinders. He believed the use of the j>ro\ ing-box to have been exceedingly dangerous, and said that on behalf of the Norwich Union Insurance Company he would not have risked one penny on tlie.block had he known of the construction of the box, and the manner in which it was used.—The juiy, after deliberating for about half an hour, returned the following verdict: —"That the fire originated in the bakehouse of Edward Watters, confectioner, Queen-street, on the night of Wednesday, the 10th of June, in consequence of the accidental ignition of the contents of a certain wooden box, called a proving-boi, and used for steaming pastry, in the construction and management of which culpable carelessness was displayed."