THE COROMANDEL FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Issue XXI, 15 May 1884, Page 6

THE COROMANDEL FIRES.

-FAULKNER'S HOUSE. Acoeonbe's inquest on the fire at Faulkner's house, Coromandel, was held at.Hallin's Royal Hotel on Saturday morning, bofore Dr. Hovell, Coroner. Mr. Charles Gibbs was foreman. ' Mr. Cotter appeared for the insurance companies. interested. On the jury _ being sworn, they proceeded to view the site of. the fire, when the following evidence was. adduced E. J. Faulkner deposed: I waa sleeping in Barrett's for the last two nights, as I waa leaving the district, and nearly all' my things had been sent away. On the morning of the fire I was awakened by Mr. Barrett calling " Fire! " X have oooupled the house for!the last three years. There waa no fire mthe house after seven in the morning. I i (losed and securely looked the house that ' Wening about eight o'clock. Barrett asked me if there was anything left in the house, t said, "Yes, Pat Hayes' olothes are there." He offered to fetoh them, and I gave him the key. He brought them out, and then said he would go back for a bundle of dog oollars. : He then brought me the key. lam certain I- secured both doors. The baok one was fastened with a bolt.—J. Barrett deposed : I was awakened by my wife asking what was the matter. I looked up and'saw a great glare,' and said, " The kitohea iB on fire." I tan out and roused Faulkner and MoLean, and raised the neighbourhood by oriea of ."Fire." I have been in the house about Sve years. The house was insured by my wife. The property cost about £SOO. 1 refused £500 for it. The house was in good repair, but we were renovating it for police inspection. It would cost about £450 or £500 to- re-bnild. I was -doing from £2 5s to £2 16s a day. I sold more beer than anything else. At the time of the fire we had three or four 36-gallon barrels in the cellar. I don't remember my wife saying the last barrel was on tap. I swear she did not. I remember Sergeant Rist coming for rum. I went to a cask and told him there was none. I knew there was plenty in the house, but it was ' not reduced. I was not going to give him 30 o.p. Faulkner asked kne to go and bring out Pat Hayes' things. A fire- did occur at the Diggers' Heat Hotel when 1 had it, but it was put out. We were cot insured. I was in Auakland at the time trying to arrange a difficulty, but could not. The bailiff was then in the house. My cashbox and books were saved.—Eleanor Eliza Barrett deposed: I used to order the goods. There were three barrels of beer full, and one on tap. I swear I never told my husband the last barrel was on tap. There was a fire at the Diggers' Kest the night before the sale, but a couple of buckets of water put it out.—By Sergeant Bist: I don't remember your being in the house enquiring ■ for rum.—A. R. 3 windley deposed that he assisted to remove all the coses of wines and . spirits he ooald see from the store-room. There might have been more, - but he did not notice them.— Several other witnesses deposed to assisting to remove furniture and goods. Mr. Cotter addressed the jury at some length. The jury, after a short deliberation, brought in the. following verdict:—"The jury are unanimously of opinion that the fire which oaused the destruction of Barrett's Hotel, Faulkner's house, and the adjoining one was caused by tho wilful act of some person or persons unknown."

THE MASONIC HOTEL. An inquest on the fire at the Masonic Hotel wsb held at Hallin'a Royal HoteL oil Monday, the 12th instant, before Dr. Hovell, Coroner, and a jury. Mr. fi. Pearce wis chosen foreman.—W. A. Waterman deposed t» being aroused by the dog barking, and to the esoape of the family by a ladder.—By Mr. Cotter : I bought the house from Mr. Coomer for, I think, £560. At the time I bought the property I had abont £450 in the Colonial Bank, and from £150 to £200 on band. I lost £200 here and the balance was owing before. Although I bought the house cheap, I considered it ■Well worth £900. I made no attempt to put oat the fire. I cannot account for the fire in any way. I pnt ont the only fire we had before going to bed. I have not offered to sell the plaoe, except when I first came down. Sarah Waterman deposed, in anawer to Mr. Cotter: My husband oonveyed the property to me about two years ago. We were doing about £8 or £9 a week. We changed the insurance office because we could get it done cheaper. The ohimney once caught fire. —Hugh Murray deposed that he was returning from work, and passed the honße abont twenty minutes to one o'clock. Then everything was quite still, la abont'ten minutes after he came out of bis house, and saw the fire coming through the shingles. He ran down and saw Waterman coming down the ladder.—The jury brought in a verdict that the fire was accidental —cause unknown. — [Own Correspondent.]