THE GREAT FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 672, 12 February 1864, Page 5

THE GREAT FIRE.

INQUIRY AS TO ITS ORIGIN.

The inquiry by Dr, Hocken, Coroner, and a Jury, into tlie origin of the late great fire, was resumed at Harding's Union Hotel, Stafford street, yesterday afternoon.

Mr E. £. Ward said that, with the permission of the Coroner, he wished to appear on behalf of Henry Albert Holmes, a witness who was examined at the previous sitting* and who had been contradicted by Mrs Bloom, another witness. Mrs Bloom was now in attendance, and she wished to explain that she had been mistaken, and why she gave the evidence she did. That evidence w;is not pertinent to the object of the inquiry --the cause of the fire; and had he been present he should have objected to the evidence being taken in the way it was. But having gone to the public, and Holmes' character being at stake, he (Mr Ward) proposed to reexamine Mrs Bloom, and to call other witnesses to corroborate what Holmes had stated-

The Coroner thought it a most proper thing to be done.

Mr Ward said it was the more necessary, because the police appeared to have come here con* ducting a sort of prosecution, which, although he felt diffident in saying; it, was not the • most desirable mode of conducting inquiries of the sort, because some persons' were afraid to make statements freely, when they saw gentlemen in uniform conducting the examination. In this instance, he' thought such a course was particularly objectionable, because the conduct of the policehad been censured in the public prints j and it was,'therefore! almost too much that they should appear in the light of prosecutors. The Coroner : It is purely an inquisition that is being held. There is no one accused of any* thing. The following evidence was given :— Catherine Bloom, by Mr Ward: When examined here the day before yesterday, I stated that I did not remember receiving a document from Mr Holmes I now say that I did—that I was so excited at the time of the fire, that I did not rem'embe,r the fact, until reminded of it by a lady who-was standing by and saw Mr Holmes give'me the docdraent. I was so excited that I placed the invoice in or on the wiqdow with lamps j and when I searched for it, after being here, I found it lying underneath the window. I produce the document. It was Mrs Hams who reminded me of the delivery of the document; she did so after I went from, here on Tuesday—lt might have been some hours after. By Inspector Morton: Well, now, about finding this document. ' Mr Ward said that this was purely a civil matter—a question as to the origin of a fire in which only civilians were concerned; and the present was the first time he had ever known the police allowed to prosecute in such a matter—for prosecation it was.

The Coroner: Mr Morton must confine himself as much as possible to the simple object of the inquiry. Inspector Morton supposed that Mr Ward would not: have been present if there was not something that looked suspicious; and the facts justified him (Mr Morton) in going on, so as to learn as much as possible. To the Witness: Are you a Jewess] Mrs Bloom : Yes.

Inspector Morton: Is the way in which you have been sworn the usual one with members ot your persuasion ? , v Mr Ward: Yes, it was; and she had her head covered, too. But he presumed the Coroner did not need not prompting on such a matter; and lie was sure the police ought not to be prompting in such! a Court!

Inspector Morton said that Mr Ward was simply, mistaken. He had seen the same thing done many times. The' Coroner: She has been properly sworn. Mr Ward : And if she had not been, I, as an expert, would have spoken at the time. Inspector Morton: I am glad to hear it. I wanted to know for my own information. Mir;Ward : This ia nob a Court for gentlemen obtaining any information, except as to the origin of tbis ( fire, . V Examination continued:—l either put or threVr the documents into the window; I arid my husband found the document last night when we searched for it., It* was under the window behind some shovels and other goods. I think that,when we found it, the document was folded as it is now, I think. I don't think there was any paper round it. Mr Ward said that this witness had been called by the, police, and they had no right to crossexamine their own witness, unless they were going to give evidence against the accused—as Holmes might be called.

Inspector Morton said that Holmes was not charged with anything. He (Mr Morton) submitted that he should be allowed to sift the statements made in reply to Mr Ward. Mr Ward said that the point had nothing to do with the origin of the fire; and to pursue it was a useless taking up the time of the Court. The\ Coroner thought it might be of some little importance. Mr Ward said it had nothing to do with the origin of the fire and could not be shown to be pertinent to the inquiry, Mrs Bloom had been recalled only for the sake of the character of Holmes.

Inspector Morton: There is one reason why I ought to go on—Mr Ward objects, which shows there is something in it. Mr Ward: I object to time being wasted. Examination continued: My husband and brother and myself were all searching. I believe they found it but I am sure it was not in aa envelope when mj husband handed it to me. Mrs Harris was standing near to me at the time; whether she was speaking to me or not, I do not know.

Inspector Morton: If Mr Holmes has said there was nobody with you, has he told the truth or not?

Mr Wjiid: Has he said it. I don't find that he has. .

Inspector Morton: I examined him, and he did.

The Coroner read his note of the evidence, bat it contained' no reference to the alleged statement. By the Coroner: I was outside the shop. My husband and brother (Mr Hyman Hart) called me in, said they had found the paper and gave it to me to put into the desk. 1 don't know whether either of them had taken the document out of an envelope. John Girdwood : I am storeman for R. Wilson and, Co. I remember the evening of the fire. I know Holmes, and was with, him from about half-past two to half-past six on that day. I met him on the Cricket Ground, and we re mained there till a quarter or twenty minutes after six. We went tip Hope street and down to the door of Robinson and Hart's store. On the way up he had told me that he was going there j for two letter?. I left him at the door and went across'the street home. I don't know whether he went in or not, for I did not look; but Ido know that from half-past two until I left him, he was not oub of my sight. By Mr Ward: I have known Holmes for 13 months. His position at Hart's was a responsible one. . I never saw him the worse for liquor. Holmes recalled; by Inspector Morton: I rewived the invoices from Mr Hart about halfpast twelve. There might have been about 20 of them. I waa about three-quarters of an hour delivering those I did deliver. Mr Hart told me to remain in the store until one o'clock, if no eoods came up from the wharf. At ten minutes to one, I gave a ticket for 14 loads; and then I closed the store at once. I then came down Stafford street and delivered an invoice to Mr Joule, after which I went on delivering till 1 got to Paterson and M'Leod's near the Octagon. Then I went to Sorley and Samuel's, and on to Thomas Brown's, in this street. I will not swear it was after four o'clock when I got to the Cricket Ground. Mr , Ward complained of these persistent attempts to entrap the witness into contradictions. He had stated.that he had locked the store about ten minutes so one o'clock; that he would be occupied about three-quarters of an hour in delivering invoices; and that he then went to the Cricket Ground. The Court could infer what the time must have been when he goi there, Inspector Morton said that the Court must form its opinion upon the evidence; and he apprehended that the questions he had been putting were perfectly legal. He must urge that the witness's very words should be taken down. The Coroner: I will take the evidence. Examination con tinned : I will not swear that it was after 4 o'clock, when I went back to the store. " By the Coroner: I did not look at my watch, and I cannot say exactly what time I got to the Cricket Ground. It might have beea inside of four o'clock, when I got to the Ground, or it mighthave been inside three o'clock. I cannot say whether it was inside one o'clock. I did not look at my watch. By Inspector Morton: I am sure it wa9 not inside one o'clock.

The Witness: I can tell you that when I got to the. Ground they said there were nine men out. By Mr Ward: The play was carried on while I was- there; I don't know whether the players went to lunch after I go.t there. By Jurors: I met Girdwood on the Ground. The stock in the store was taken between the 17th and 20th December, because of a dissolution

• i partnership. It is because of my knowledge of that', that I stated the value of the stock was between L7OOO and LBOOO.

David Wren : I am a provision dealer in Stafford street. On the 25th ult. I bought two cases of matches from Messrs fisher arid Co, one sold as sound and. in"good condition, the oilier as ullage, which means that it had been opened. I received an order from Messrs Fisher to go and count the contents of the ullage case, and went direct to the stores of Hart and Co for that pur pose. I saw Mr Hart, who took me into the cellar, and pointed me out a case of matches in zinc. It was dark, so that I could not see the condition of the case, but by passing my hand over it, I felt that it was in extremely bad order, and I walked away. I went next morning to Fisher's and said they had given me an order for a damaged case, not an ullaged one, and that if they would give me an order for a sound case of matches, I would take it. They behaved very honorable, for of course they knew me, and I took the order they gave me and went to HartV store. This was on the morning of the fire. I gave the order to the storeman, who lighted a candle, and we went down into the cellar. Then I had an opportunity of inspecting the case. I had refused the previous day, when there was no light. There was a great hole in the side of the extremely light zinc case, as if made to take out dozen case parcels. I said "Do you see the state of those matches?" They were all loose. They were "• 1.N.E." matches—every body knows what they are. Whenever the case was lifted or moved the round boxes must roll about so as to endanger friction, and friction. is dangerous, you know, with such combustible things as matches. I Baid to the storeman, "'Don't you know what you ought to do with those matcheo 1 If you had to hunt the town for it, you ought to get a zinc case, and re-pack the matches." I don't know whether Holmes was the man or not. I meant a wool case, lined with zinc. He said he could not get a case to fit; and I said "you could easy cut it down." He said he wouldn't be bothered -that he had no time to go round the town. I did not make any further remark; and the storeman and another man lifted the damaged case from the top of mine, and placed it on a pile of sugars lying be9ide. The matches began to roll about at once My case was put into the express, and I left. This would be between twelve and one o'clock; and the fire broke out that evening. By the Coroner: There were not any matches out of the boxes. I did not stay in the cellar over five minutes after this damaged case had been moved. During that time, there was no sign at all that the matches had ignited. As the case was placed, no rat could have knocked or shook the case off the bag of sugar. Some force or something of weight would be required to do that. The only danger would be from friction ; I did not apprehend anything from where the matches, were placed. • By Mr Ward: I live close by. The " Superintendent" of Police met me yesterday and asked if my name was Wren, and I said "Yes." He asked me if I saw the fire at the beginning, and I said ■" Yes.'! He asked me to come inside and make my statement. I went and told them just what I've told the Coroner. I saw Mr Hart yesterday. I did not suggest any course to prevent my appearing here. I said the police had spoken to me, but! had not been subpoenaed and di 1 not care to go, but I supposed'if they subpoenaed me I must go. I have, been subpoenaed. I've mither' lost nor won by the fire. I found out Mr Hart's private residence because somebody at the El Dorado pointed it out to me. I know where bJs business place is. I did not see Mr Hart at his residence, when I went there to tell Mr Hart that the police had spoken to me ad that I had made.a statement. A young girl took me to the Arcade, where I saw Mr Hart and told him about my statement, and that 1 was not summoned. He said, as I was not summoned, there was no necessity for me to attend. I have since received a summons; and I should have attended if I had not. Mr Hart never said, "I shall be very glad to see you." I had no motive at all for this. I generally spend my eyenings at the El Dorado, having a glass and a. game of cards; and the thing being talked about. Home one said, "You had better go and see Mr Hart, and tell him." I went to his house, and when I got there, he not being home, his landlady sent the servant or some gal to show me where he was, and I followed the gal. I meant to show 'a friendly feeling rather than otherwise. He did not give me aLS note, and I don't happen to want one. I suppose I'm not likely to get one. By the Coroner: I did not see any matches fall but of the hole when the'damaged case was moved.

Henry Hart: The property in our late store belonged to myself and my brother John, as partners, as did the store. There were some cases of matches in the place; and I know that one of them was broken, as admitted by Holmes at the last sitting. It had been recently imported, and the woodwork had c;me away. The zinc case remained sound except at one corner, where some of the solder had yielded, so that a hand could be put through. I value the property in the store at nearly L9OOO, and the whole, except a few hundred pounds, belonged to us. I was at home in Rattray-street when the fire bell rang, and as I was rushing through the Arcade some one said it was our place. They were coming from Stafford-street. Nobody connected with the store pointed out the fire to me —I saw it when J got into Stafford-street. I'm not certain whether what I heard in the Arcade was that the fire was in or near our place. My brother was confined to his bed, and had been tor some weeks before. I have no recollection of offering money to a single soul with reference to the file on that night. Bj Mr Ward : We had an iron safe which was got out by some 20 or 30 men, including some of the Fire Brigade. I may have offered money to get it out. I had a strong desire to have it out, for there were acceptances to the amount of L2OOO or L3OOO in it, with the books and other documents. I don't think I offered money to any one, for there were plenty of volunteers; but I may have done bo. Holmes has been with us since we have been in Dunedin, near three years; but he has been employed by various members of the firm for eight years. He is a remarkably steady man, and it was because of the confidence we had in him that we brought him over from Melbourne. I left the store about twelve o'clock on the "day of the fire, leaving Holmes some monthly statements to deliver, which, would occupy him about half an hour or three quarters, before taking the half-holiday which I had told him he would have. I only know Wren by sight. He had never been to my house before last night. Last evening I was in a shop in the Arcade, when I was- told that a man outside wanted inc. I went and saw Wren, who said that he had been visited by a member of the police as to certain statements he could make. I can't recollect the precise words or all the conversation; but I will swear positively that he used the words. "If you wish it, I will be out of the way." He told me it was about matches that he was expected to give evidence. I think I did not misunderstand what he wanted. I thanked him for his very kind intentions, but told him he was at liberty to give any evidence he chose, as the fact of the loose case of matches had been admitted by Holmes already. When I found that Wren had been to my house, I had no doubt what be wanted.

By the Coroner: I knew of this case. It was not dangerous, as I believe. It was a perfect impossibility that the matches could roll about, for none had been removed, and all were wedged tight. The hole was at the lid of the case, not at the side. If the case was turned over some of the boxes might have fallen out. 1 believe that such a case or cases could be found in the store of almost every merchant in Dunedin, We had setae new bales of clothing in the store that had not been unpacked; .otherwise we had no cloth or woollen goods. By Inspector Morton: Holmes may not know the difference, but what I gave him to deliver were monthly statements, not invoices. Henry William Partridge, a very intelligent lad, was called.

Inspector Morton said the lad was brought to him at the office, as being the first who saw the fire. Perhaps the coroner would hear his story, and then judge whether it should be taken down.

Partridge made the following statement, only the first two or three sentences being in reply to questions. My father is up in Auckland now, I live with my mother here in Stafford street, and I work in Harnett and Co.'s. I am eleven years old. I remember the evening of the fire, and I know the place where it broke out. When I was going up home from town, I saw smoke coming out of the door of Robinson and Hart's place. I looked underneath the door ami I saw the smoke coming out, so 1 called out " Fire." I called a man from over the way, and I asked whether I could see Mr Hart. He pointed me to a gentleman and I ran up to him. I asked him whether he was Mr Hart. He wanted to know why I asked him the quebtion. I told him if he was Mr Hart his place was on fire. He was with another gentleman, and he wished him good bye and away he came down. He walked quietly down. Then, afterward, he stood and looked at the fire. I know nothing more about it. Inspector Morton : Did Mr Hart say anything to you. Partridge: I was told that that wa3 Mr Hart and I went up to him. He came to me again. He said I was to call again nexfc week, and he would give me the sum of L 3. I should know the gentleman who did this. Inspector Morton : Tell the Coroner what you told me this morning. Partridge: I said to you this morning when brought in, that I was the boy that was at the fire first. You was writing. You called me to

your side, and then you asked me where the fire broke out first. I told you, and then you asked me, who did I see. I told you. Then, after a bit, you asked me whether it was Mr Hart. I said I was not sure whether it was Mr Hart or not.

Inspector Morton: Did you tell me about a remark the man made, that it was only a fire in the fire place1?

Mr Hart said that he had it upon positive evidence that for some time prior to the niarm-bell ringing, a policeman stood in front of the place, and that he prevented some of Mr Nathan's men breaking in, as they had come to do. When he (Mr Hart) went up long after, there was no appearance of flame, so that he wanted to go in and rescue his books.

Partridge, by Inspector Morton : I di-i not get the L 3, nor did I go to any body's house for it. The lad was told to go round the room and point out the person who promised the money, if he could find him. He went twice, but each time declared " He's not here."

¥By Mr Hart: Oh, no, you're not the man. Yes, I recollect seeiDg you before, but I never spoke to you. The man was a good deal taller than you, and thin, with black hair. He wore a black coat and- light trousers. Mr Hart: When I left home I was with Mr I Levy, We rushed up to the place, and we were j not separated for some time. The Coroner said he did not think it was necessary to take down any part of the boj's statement, Mr Casper said he had heard the conduct of the police referred to. He wished to be allowed to state that, having been on the spot from the bursting out of the flames until six o'clock in the morning, he thought it was very unjust in any way to asperse the conductjof the force. He was engaeed all night in transporting valuable goois, and from every member of the force he came near he received unremitting and very valuable assistance. The only thing he noticed vas, that there was no person in authority to form a cordon round the place, as would have been done in England, nor any person with power to burst open the store. Had this been done, he might have saved half his goods. Inspector Morton stated that he was present in plain clothes, having not long before come into town. When there was an alarm that there was gunpowder in Mr Mill's place, he went in and brought it out and gave it to some of the officers for removal. Mr Casper said that when he heard the talk about gunpowder, he went round to his place with Mr Staveley, and contrived to save a great amount of property. Inspector Morton said he heard of a large gun in the neighborhood, and he got it to the spot. He wanted to blow down the corner store; and he wa? then under the impression, and he still believed, that if he had been allowed to do this, he could have saved Mr Casper's store. There Was an experienced gunner present; and he (Mr Morton) believed that the thing could have been done in four shots, and that he could have made arrangements to prevent the slightest danger to any person. But Capt. Bees declined to allow him to do it. Mr Hart asked, as Mr Casper's remarks had been allowed, that he might be permitted to say a few words. A letter written by himself, and bearing the signature of his firm, appeared in the " Times," laying a charge of drunkenness against one or two members of the police force, He felt very much aggrieved, knowing the fact to be as stated, because they lost a tolerable amount of property, on account of vigilance not being used to protect it, He knew beforehand that he was perfectly justified in writing that letter; for he was prepared with the testimony of several respectable citizens in support of the charge he made. He wrote a letter to Mr Morton, acd delivered it at the office with his own hand, stating that he could produce those witnesses if Mr Morton wished further satisfaction. He had no desire now to give further publicity to the matter. Although he confessed that he was so: c and smarting under his loss, he should have been very sorry to have made a general charge against the police force here ; for he agreed that, as a body, they were quite deserving of the praise of every citizen. But he could not shut his eyes to individual cases ; and he must in self-defence repeat that his charge was not without foandation, but that be was now equally prepared to give the names of witnesses of the misbehavior of one or two members of the force, as he was when he made the charge.

Inspector Morton said that such might have been the case, but he did not see it. He did, however, write to Mr Hart, asking him to come and identify the men on parade; and had he identified them, they would have been discharged. Mr Hart remarked that even now, instead of shirking investigation, Mr Casper and himself were still willing to pursue it further, and they would give a large money reward to any one who. would give information showing how the fire originated. Inspector Morton said it was not an impossibility that the fire was the work of robbers who wanted plunder during the confusion. Mr Casper confessed that the whole thing was still a mystery to him. Partridge (in reply to the coroner) said—l whistled like, to the two men whom I saw on the other side of the road. They came over, looked under the door, and said the smoke was only from a fire-place in the store. The smoke was coming out from the.partition of both doors. Mr Ward called the following witnesses :—

Jacob Andread Isaacs: I am a chemist in Maclaggan-street. On tue night of the fire I received an account from Messrs Hart. My little boy gave it t > me between half-past seven and eight o'clock in the evening. He said that a tall man had left it. Amelia Harrison : I am the wife of Maurice Harris. I was in the Arcade with Mrs Bloom on the night of the fire, but not until after the bell rang. A gentleman came up to Mrs Bloom whom I have seen to-day, but whom I did not know at the time. That is the man (Holmes). I saw him give Mrs Bloom a letter, which she threw into the window. I have since told her of it. T lere being no further evidence, The Coroner said he thought the jury would agree with him that there was not the least evidence to show how the fire was caused. There were some supposed suspicious circumstances; but it was for the jury to say whether they considered them suspicious—as carrying the least weight, or attaching the slightest blame to any man, such as the witness Holmes. He thought they might certainly conclude that the fire did not originate in the bad case of matches-; if it did so, it would have occurred many hours earlier, so that the question was whether the jury would connect the firewith the visit which Holmes paid to the store soon after six o'ciock. Holmes' character, was good- it could not be supposed that he had any motive for incendiarism he was not smoking—and he was not in the store more than & minute before he got the invoices. There did not seem to him (the Coronor) to be anything whatever in the circumstances. Whether it was the work of an incendiary or not, they did not know; but he did not think that blame attached to any one. It was, however, for the jury to decide. ■ After a short consultation the jury agreed to a verdict declaring that the fire commenced in Messrs Hart's store; and that there was no evidence to show how it originated, The jury added, " The jury are further of opinion that no blame whatever attaches to Holmes, the storaman." ' - ' -

Thb Vernon Gailery.—The history of the Vernon Gallery is singular. Mr Vernon had no particular taste for money. He was rich, and lent money. One of his debtors, who resided near him, had failed to fulfil his bond. Vernon put an execution In his house. While the bailiffs were in occupation, the poor brokenhearted debtor died. Vernon went to the house to see whether the property, when disposed of, would cover the amount of his claim. He saw some fine pictures on the walls; he also saw the wailing widow. Struck by her beauty, and commiserating her grief, he suspended hostile operations,, and desired she would continue at her abode. He renewed his visits; each time he was more pleased with the widow; and when a decent period had elapsed he declared himself enamoured of her, and said that if she would become,his wife, not a chattel she had been accustomed to see in her house should be removed. All should be transferred to her new dwelling. The widow—long obdurate—melted, and Vernon became the owners of the pictures. He had a favorite nephew—Heath, the optician -living with him. I knew Heath—a man of cultivated taste. Vernon asked him about the pictures— their value—their painters. Heath took the opportunity of dwelling upon the claims of artists to munificent patronage, and told his uncle that no more noble use could be made of the gifts of fortune than the encouragement of painting. Vernon took the hint at once, gave commissions to various artists of the highest repute, and soon accumulated that noble collection which is now public property, and bears the name of the donor.—" Harper's New Monthly Mafizine." Japanese Churchyards.—The Japanese, like their neighbors in China, pay great attention to the graves of their dead. They frequently visit them, and place branches of Skimmi (Illicium anisatum), laurels, and other evergreens, in bamboo tubes in front of the stones. When these branches wither they remove them replace them with others, The trade of collecting and selling these branches must be ODe of considerable magnitude in Japan ; they are exposed, in large quantities, tor sale in all the large cities and villages; one is continually meeting with people carrying them in the streets; and they seem always fresh upon the graves, showing that they are frequently replaced.—Fortune's "Yeddo and Peking."