THE RECENT FIRE AT ARROWSMITH’S.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8007, 11 February 1887, Page 2

THE RECENT FIRE AT ARROWSMITH’S.

An inquest was held fay Dr Johnston, District Coroner, at the Club (late Oxford) Hotel yesterday morning into the circumstances attending the recent tiro at Ur F. H. Arrowsmith’a premises on Lambton-qnay. A jury of six, of which Mr Robert. Gardner was chosen foreman, was empanelled. The police wore represented by Inspector Browne. Frances Henry Arrowsmith, grocer and fruiterer, deposed that be occupied the premises destroyed by fire on the 29th January. He slept on the premises, occupying the back room upstairs. A man named Harry McMurray occupied the room with him. (At this stage all other witnesses were ordered out of the room.) Witness went to bed at 10.30 on the evening of the 28th, and the place was locked up by McMurray, who put out the shop lights and one that was burning in the kitchen. McMurray was in charge when witness went to bed. Did not hear McMurray come to bed. About 3 o’clock McMurray woke witness up, stating ho “could hear some things falling next door.” Witness at once got out of bed and went but into the lobby, where he could smell fire. There was no smoke about that ho could see. A light having been obtained, witness got some clothes on and came down stairs again. Opening the door leading from the kitchen into the shop, he found the shop full of smoke, and made an attempt to gel his books, whioh were on the counter near the window. He fell over some fruit that was on the floor, and when he got up the place was in dames. The fire came from the dividing wall between Mr Lindsay’s shop and witness’. Tried then to escape, and got through the front shop door and called “ Fire !” It was dark in the kitchen, and could not say it smoke or fire was there. By Inspector Browne: There was a candle lighted by an assistant after the alarm of fire was given. Witness went down in the dark, but could notget thebooks. Kept the cash-box upstairs, and got the remnants of it after the fire. After once coming downstairs could not go back again, os the flames had spread so rapidly. After coming out in the street ran across to the New Zealand Times office and gave the alarm of fire. Had no water or buckets about. There was no time to make any effort to stay the flames. The partition between Mr Lindsay’s shop and witness’ was very thin, and conversations could be heard in both shops. Witness was insured for £4OO on the stock and £SO on the furniture. That amount did not cover all his loss. Had £123 in his cash-box at the time. Amongst this was included a cheque fer £69 2s 8 J. The latter had been since replaced. By Mr Gardner: Had a banking account. The £7O was received as moneys owing. The day before the fire witness called at an auction mart, and when he came out it; was* past banking hours, or the whole amount would have been paid into the Bank. There was a sum of £26 in notes and silver, which was received from E A. Fisher. Witness was treasurer to the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society, and there was close on £4O of the money lost belonging to the Society. By Inspector Browne: Had no safe. The waste book recovered would not show the business transactions. To Mr Kirkoaldie : Took stock on New Year’s Day, and estimated it at £437 without a soda water machine, valued at £IOO. The stock consisted of dried fruits, preserved fruits, and general groceries. Was in no financial difficulties, and was doing a good business. Estimated his loss at £BOO. Witness was burnt out in December, 1885. Was insured for £4OO on tbe stock, and £3oonthe furniture. Received £250, and paid all liabilities. Did not pay off the debts oat of the insurance money, as he was in good circumstances. Witness sold matches, bat they were kept in a zinc-lined case at the rear of tbe shop. Believed tbe fire started in the partition. Had no reason to snppose that the fire originated in Mr Lindsay’s shop. Henry McMurray, an assistant grocer in the employ of last witness, stated that he remembered the morning of 29th January last. He was sleeping in the same room as Mr Arrowsmith. On tbe morning of tbe fire he was awoke by hearing a noise, which he at first thought was on the root. Witnees woke up Arrowsmith, and they both smelt fire. Tbe got np as quickly as possible, but only had time to pnt.on their trousers and get downstairs. Witness was left in charge of the chop on the night previous to tbe fire. The shop was closed np at 11 o’clock. All lights were put out before going upstairs. By Inspector Browne : He took some money after Arrowsmith went to bed, which was put in the cash-box. Ou going to bed he carried the box upstairs, and placed it in a chest of drawers. There was £lO or £l2 in it. The money be saw in the cash-box was one cheque for £3, a note, and some geld and silver. There might have been paper money at tbe bottom of tbe box,

Witness did not smoke. Knew a man slept in Lindsay’s shop, bat did not call him. Witness lost hia watch and other articles, and estimated his loss at £2O. Edwin George Holloway said that on the night of the lire he was sleeping in a room over Mr Lindsay’s shop. He went to bed about 11 o’clock, and was awoke about 3 a.m., half suffocated with smoke. He heard no alarm, but beard the crackling of fire and got up at once and made his escape through the window and thence down a verandah post. By Inspector Browne : Slept at the back pact of the front room, immediately over Lindsay’s shop. There was no smell of burning leather. P. H. Arrowsmith recalled : Had been in the bedroom since the lire, and found the chest of drawers quite consumed. There were a great number of rats about the premises. The lire when first discovered by witness was immediately below his bedroom. Constable William Gleeson deposed that ha was on duty on Lambton-qnay on the morning of the fire. About 3 a.m. ho smelt a strong smell of smoke, and on looking about he found that ArrowsmitVs building was on fire. He raised the alarm, and did all he could to stay the progress of the flames, but the fire had too good a hold. Arthur Eased, auctioneer, said that he had made an inventory of the debris after the fire inquestion. He estimated theralueof the stock beforethe fire tobeabout£l7o. Ho estimated the stock iu the front shop to have been worth £l3O. Arrowsmith told witness that the soda-water machine was not included in the insurance. In looking over the debris, witness found £2 8a in silver. There was also a quantity of stuff in the back premises which witness estimated to be worth about £56. Mr Arrowsmith asked that the person employed by the Northern Insurance Company, who examined the stock, might be examined, but the jury thought that it was unnecessary. This concluded the evidence, and the jury, without retiring, brought in a verdict tfaat there was no evidence to show bow the fire originated.