THE GRAND HOTEL FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11691, 28 June 1901, Page 3

THE GRAND HOTEL FIRE.

RESUMPTION OF THE INQUEST. The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the five victims of the fire at the Grand Hotel, which was burned on May 31, was resumed at the Central Hotel yesterday, before Mr. Thomas Gresham, coroner, and a jury of six. SubInspector Mitchell appeared for the police. Mr. N. A. McLeod, of Dargaville, watched the proceedings on behalf of Messrs. Hancock and Co. Mr. Alex. Johnston, the licensee of the hotel, was also present. Robert William Thomas, day porter, stated that he had been reading in bed on the night of the fire, but had a distinct recollection of blowing out his candle. At about cue- o'clock he heard falling gla-ss, and heavy steps in the cook's room. When he went in the cool: told him the place was on fire. He helped one of the women out of the place. When he got out into the yard the lire had a good hold, and seemed to be fiercest in the direction of the pantry. There were three men in the yard, but he did not notice who they were. Witness came back into the hotel, and found the well a mass of flame. He got a few clothes on, and then went out into the yard again. . Witness had made a careful search of the debris for the diningroom silver. He had found 94 pieces, but none of the larger articles, such as coffee pots, etc. Ralph Keesing, who was living at Grande Vue, two doors lower down Princes-street than the Grand Hotel, was examined, but could throw no fresh light on the affair. John Craven, agricultural cadet, stated that he was i boarder- at the hotel at the time of the fire. He slept in a room on the first floor, facing the Northern Club, and went to bed between eight and nine o'clock on the evening of May 30. He woke up half-suffocated, and thought be heard a cry of lire. When he opened his door, to the left was a mass of flames, and to the right the ceiling was burning. He escaped by the main stairway. After witness leached the street about twenty minutes elapsed before the brigade arrived. When lie reached the street he did not think that part, of the building where the children slept had caught. James rover, head waiter at the Grand Hotel, on May 30 last, stated that there had never been a fire in the diningroom grate. When he left the room, at half-past seven, there was one gas jet burning. It was Middleton's duty to turn that light out when be locked the doors of the room. At four p.m. the Coroner had to leave, to hold an inquest upon an inmate at the Avondale Lunatic Asylum, who died yesterday morning, and the further hearing of evidence was adjourned till this morning, at ten o'clock