THE LATE FIRE AT PUKEKOHE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 6

THE LATE FIRE AT PUKEKOHE.

On Wednesday, August 1, an inquiry was held in the R. M. Court here, before Thomas Jackson, Esq., Coroner, and a jury of six— viz., Messrs. Russell, Fireman, Usher, Chadwick, Morrow, Latimer, and Wright, on a fire that occurred on the 7th of June last, when a house and stack of oaten sheaves were totally, destroyed. The stack was not insured, but the house and furniture were insured in the office of the Standard for the sum of £150. Mr. Thomas Wilson, the leasee of the property, was with his wife and a Miss Hunter, living in the house, and-on the Wednesday evening preceding the fire, had a few friends with him spending the evening. The guests left about eleven o'clock p.m., Mr. and Mrs. Wilson seeing them off, and Mr. Wilson, before retiring, went around the premises to see that everything was safe. About twelve o'clock he thought he heard a slight noise outside the house, as if caused by some person walking. He listened attentively for a short time, but hearing nothing further, he fell asleep. About three o'clock, as near as he con' 1 guess, he was awakened by Miss Hunter calling out that there was fire about, as her r<x>m was full of smoke. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were soon out, and on Mr. Wilson going outside he saw the oaten stack all ablaze. On going into the house to dress himself, he also found the house on fire under his bedroom. Their first thought was to save as much as possible of the furniture, but so rapid did the fire spread that very little time was afforded them to save much of their furniture. Mr. Wilson, on finding he could do nothing more, went for Constable MeGovern, who, on arriving on the scene, found nothing but a smouldering heap of ruins. There were several witnesses examined, but nothing material was elicited that would throw any light on the origin of the fire. The inquiry lasted all day, and the jury, after a short deliberation, brought in the following verdict" That the whole affair was verv mysterious, but there was nothing in the evidence adduced to show how the fire occurred." Correspondent.]