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New Zealand Mail, Issue 906, 12 July 1889, Page 15

Fire at Mrs Walker’s.— About half, past 8 o’clock on July 4th smoke wft3 discovered by several bystanders issuing from the premises of Mrs Walker, milliner, Lambton-qnay, An alarm was at once given te the Brandon-street Fire Brigade Station, aud in a short time a hoie-reel was ou the soene. In the meaffirme the city bells gave an alarm, and Captain Page with his firemen were quiokly on the spot. An entrance was forced into the premises and a couple of leads of hose were taken up Woodward-street to the rear of the building, while another was at work iu front. The fire, which appeared to have broken out in the front pait of the shop, was quickly extinguished. Upon examination it was found that the greater part of the valuable stock was destroyed by fire, Water and smoke. Mrs Walker, who owns the shop and building, was in Wanganui at thetime with her family. The only persons living on the premises were two of her sisters—the Misses Hattrick—and Miss Wilkinson. The foriner at the time of - the outbreak were at the Rowing Club ball in the Garrison Hall, j The origin of the fire is unknown. So far as we can learn the insurance on the stock and fixtures is aB follows £2OOO in the Phoenix office, partly re-insured in the following offices£soo North German, £SOO Equitable, £SOO British and Colonial. There was aEo £4OO in the linperial Company, There are a considerable number of valuable dresses in an upßt&irs room uninjured. The ohemißb shop next door, occupied by Mb Chisholm, has received' some damage from the smoke. An inquest was commenced at the Branch: Hotel on Saturday afternoon, before the District Coroner (Mr H. W. Robinson) and a jury, of whom Mr J. E. Hayes was foreman. The Coroner, in addressing the jury, explained that the object of holding an inquest ou a fire was twofold—firstly, to discover if had been incendiarism ; and scondly, to ascertain the pause, with the object of determining whether if? wasjpf a pro.yentjble kind as ft safeguard for the future, Inspector Thomson explained that the object: qf holding the inquest then was to get the jury to view the premises before anything had been disturbed in clearing up. Mr Kember, who is; acting on Mrs Walker’s behalf, complained that she had not been notified that an inqueßt was to be held. Inspector Thomson stated that the police had made every endeavour to find Mrß Walker in the short time at their disposal, but they had not succeeded. He did not, however, . see how she could be prejudiced in any way, seeing that she wasi represented, and that it was not intended to take apy evidenceAben. The Coroner said it wopld nqt fee proper any evidence should be taken in Mrs Walker’s absence. The jury then visvved tire premises, Captajn I’agq, of the Eire Brigade, attending, apdexpressing his theory as to the portion oi the premises in whiclj the fire appeared to have originated, and Mr Kember expressed a,n opinion as to the way in which it appeared him the fir.e might spreadl Having gone over the premises, the Coroner and jury returned to the Branch Hotel, and after some discußßi6ri it was deeded to adjyurn the jnquest rintil’the lfith, at 10 am, in the Reßiderit M a Si ß f' rato,s Court.

Empress Victoria of Germany ftnd the, “ Queen of Italy are said to be the two cleverest and most highly educated women in Europe. “