THE OPITONUI FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11365, 7 May 1900, Page 5

THE OPITONUI FIRE.

[iit TELEGiurn.—own correspondent] Coromandel, Saturday. An inquiry was held at Opitonui this morning, before the coroner (Mr. Swindle?) regarding the Commercial Hotel fire, Mr. Lorain, in his evidence, stated that he was awakened by a noise of something falling and found flames all along the ceiling of the passage. Ho crept along the floor to Mr. Findlay's room and alarmed him. He then crept to Mr. McArthur'e room and awoke him, Mr. Lorain then called the girls, and they got out nt back of the house, no escaped with only his pants. All Tils personal effects were lost. His insurances were £750 on the stock and furniture, £50 on oil paintings, and £40.0n the piano. His stock and furniture had been insured for £1000, but the amount was reduced from that sum to the £750, in March last, owing, he understood, to other fires in the district previously. The building, he understood, was insured for £1500. It was erected in August. 1898. He had heard that the hotel cost £1380. The outbuildings were additional. Further improvements were made since. Mr. I.oram also stated that lie could only think that the fire occurred from a mammoth lamp which was hanging in the bar. Complaints had been made that the roof upstairs over this lamp was hot. One lodger was in a great state, believing the house was on fire. The limp was under a ventilator, and had about 13in of a chain. The joints could bo seen through the ventilator. He had seen the chain red-hot. but did not think there was any danger. Mr. Qoldsworthy slept in No. 4 bedroom for three months, and always complained of the heat. Mr. Loram had spoken to Mr. C. Wright, carpenter, about it, but he said there was no danger from the lamp. He also called tlio attention of Mr. I'hilpot, representing Messrs. Hancock and Co., to it, and asked him to tell the,owners of the building. This was during the last election. Mr. Loram valued bis stock alone at from £300 to £400. He considered £1400 would fully cover the hotel building. The outbuildings no estimated as being worth £300. He considered his own loss to be from £500 to £600 over the amount of his insurance. He put out the lights at half-past ten p.m., and saw no sign of fire. Ho awoke with the noise of the fire at half-past two a.m. Duncan McArthur, surveyor, in his evidence, stated that he went to lied about half-past nine p.m., and about half-past two a.m. he was awakened from a sound sleep by Mr. Lorain shaking him. He then found the building in flames. In escaping he fell clown the stairs, down which the flames appeared to follow him. He only had his shirt on and lost everything, including his instruments and plans. He owed his life to Mr. Loram for arousing him in the manner he did. He valued his personal loss at £300. He had no insurance. The jury returned (he following verdict, "That the Commercial Hotel, at Opitonui, was completely destroyed by fire. How it originated we cannot tell, but believe it to be the result of accident brought about by the heat of the lamp being directly under a ventilator. We wish also to express our sympathy with Mr. McArthur, surveyor, in his severe loss, and to show our appreciation of Mr. Lorain's prompt action owing to which no life was lost."