LATE FIRE IN THAMES-STREET.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 979, 9 June 1879, Page 2

LATE FIRE IN THAMES-STREET.

An inquiry into the cause of the late fire in the shop of Mr. Lippert, Thamesstreet, was held to-day, before T. W. Parker, Esq., Coroner, and a Jury of 15, of which Mr. Falconer was chosen foreman. Mr. Balmer appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Insurance Companies, and Mr. O'Meagher on behalf of the insured. Inspector Thompson conducted the proceedings, and stated that the inquiry was instituted by the police. Charjeg Sands deposed that he was a painter, residing in Oanmru, He remembered the night of the 4th inst. He was in Wilson's boarding-house, in company with a man named Smith, He heard some boys outside shouting out "Fire." It was then nearly eleven o'clock. Witness rushed out of the boardinghouse towards Lippert's shop. The front door of Lippert's shop had just been burst open by Detective Livingstone. Witness entered the shop, and saw it was on fire in the right-hand corner behind the counter. The fire had not got a good hold when he entered. The blaze was coming up between the partitions, and had found its way through about prt. oin.'from the floor. " Tlie fife had started between the partitions. Smith and witness ran out to Wilson's and got some water, and threw it over the fire, which had the effect of extinguishing part of it. Eventually he succeeded in puttiiig it out. Witness saw a mackintosh in the back part of the shop on fire, and there was also a basket containing bottles fit kerqssn§ near where the mackintosh was burning.. The basket was two feet away from the par : tjtion, Cross-examined by Mr. O'Meagher— Witness could tell by the smell that it was kerosene in the basket. In some of the bottles there were no corks. He saw 3omo of the lining pulled off, and observed somo of the joists on fire, but saw no combustibles. Smith asked Lippert whether he was going to get anything for putting out the fire, and Lippert replied, "ISfq." Witness did not say, " Wait till the jn= quiry comes on." Hugo Lippert, being sworn, said that he was a storekeeper, residing in Oamaru.

Between 5 and 0 o'clock on the evening of the 4th inst., he sold the last bottle of kerosene he had in the store. Shortly after he had sold it, he told his Bhopman to tell the other man to fill a few bottles so as to last for the evening. When ho gave the order, the boy was at his tea, and he told his shopman to toll the boy to till the bottles when lie came back. Witness then went to tea, and returned and closed the shop at 20 minutes past seven, and they all left together. He asked the boy if he was not going out that night to light the fire in his room in his own house. He went to Wanslieckstreet to see Mr. E. B. Larkin, to settle an account with him. Finding that Larkin was engaged, he went back to the shop, saying that lie would call again. He had an appointment at the shop for eight o'clock, with Mr. Bust. Bust came, and they remained together in the shop till half-past eight. On leaving he turned the gas in the front shop very low. The gas in the back shop was out. He went to the Star and Garter Hotel to meet a traveller, and gave ail order for some sugar, blue, and washing-boards. Witness, then went to see Mr. Larkin, and was in bis company till about 10 minutes to 10. He then went up the street to go home, and on the road mot Mr. Grant standing at the door of his hotel, and went in and had a talk and a drink, which lasted about twenty minutes. As witness crossed the street to go to his own shop, he saw his neighbours Walsh and Humphrey standing at their own doorway. He spoke to them, and Humphrey remarked that witness appeared to be working lato, as there was gas burning in his place. Ho went into the shop, and placeed an acceptance which he had received from Larkin in the safe, took a pair of boots, turned the gas out, and came away. When ho came out lie saw Walsh and Humphrey just across the road. Witness was just going to bed when Mr. Davidson cainc to his door, and called out " Lippert. " It was ten minutes past 11 when witness got home. Davidson said, "Como quick ; your shop is on fire," and he hurried as fast as he could to the shop. When arrived at the shop, he found four or five policemen there and a detective. The fire was smouldering at the ceiling, and Dr. Fleming put it out with a syringe. In reply to Dr. Fleming, witness stated that there were no oily or greasy rags about the partition. There was only one oil}' rag in the shop, which ho kept under the counter. Dr. Fleming put his hand down, and felt some heat coming from the lower part of the partition. Dr. Fleming and witness pulled the tongued and grooved lining from the inside of the shop, and saw some tire, the inside boards being alight. Detective Livingstone, after the fire had been put out, examined the place to see if there was anything combustible there, but evidently could find nothing. Maitland and witness remained in the shop till daylight for fear of the fire again breaking out.

Examined by Inspector Thompson : The acceptance I placed in the safe was uninjured by the fire. From the time I left the store till Davidson came to my house it would be about half an hour. On the night in question, when I was going home, I met Lcimon the fishmonger. The value of the goods I had in my store ■ ill the evening (if the fire was L 350. I have not taken stock. The jj-oiU were insured for LSOO. I had sumo at the railway station. I di<l not rorusc delivery of the goods. I could not them away, as I had to go to NY.; sfcnn f. day. I was asked to take delivery of t'io goods. I had a cask of croekcy in instable at the back which I w uirei! o-; rid of before taking the goori.f from the railway station. I had two uto.sk of matches in the store paoked in a case. The box was in the front shop, and was three or four feet from where the witness Sands says he saw the firo. I had a half-chest of tea on top of the case containing the matches. I have an idea that the fire was caused by mice nibbling the heads of matches. There was only one key for the shop, but I several times missed things. I have not an inventory of the salvage stock, There was about L4OO worth of saved from the last fire. When I the stock in my present shop, it was worth LCOO. [Left sitting.]