THE LATE FIRE AT PATEA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 2198, 2 May 1874, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE AT PATEA.

(FBOM OUE OWN CORHBSPONDBNT.) An inquest was beld on Monday last, before Major Turner, Coroner, ac the Court-house, Carlyle, to enquire into the oansa of the fire at the Carlyle Hotel, on the previona Saturday morning. Tie following jury were then sworn :--W. Williamß (foreman), W. Williams, B. D. Smith, J, Rhodes, J. Paken. ham, F. J. Smith, R. Daniel, D. Hurley, W. Box, F. McCarthy, W. Odgers, P. Qnion. The jury having viewed the site of the fire, E. C. Meredith, Sergeant Armed Coustabnlary, was duly sworn. On the morning of the 25th April, my wife woke me and told me MoGaire's house was on fire. I got np and saw flames coming out at the south-east end — also the roof. I partly dressed, and then ran ont and gave the alarm. The house was all in a blaze but one room — the one on the north-west side. — Cross-examined by the jury : The fire occurred at about two a.m. I am not aware who was in charge of the house at that time. I believe no one was Bleeping or living in the house. There was a very slight breeze. The fire was on the lee side of the house.— Cross-examined by Mr. MoGnire s I made all enquiries.— -Cross-examined by the foreman : The next morning I was told by Mr. S. Taplin that Mr. MoGuire was seen riding down from the oonntry into Carlyle in the middle of the night, and that he was very likely hiding in his Btore. I also received in* formation that between eleven and twelve that night that D. Sullivan got a cat. This Snllivan himself told me. He said he took the oat from Connelly's. I have also heard that a light was Been in the bouse at about nine or ten p.m. on the evening of the 24th. I enquired where Mr. MoGnire was, and his man told me he was at Hawera.

L. Bagot, Armed Constabulary, deposed : Soon after 2 a.m. on Saturday last, I was awoke by the barking of a dog. I looked out of the window, and saw the glare of a fire. I called ont, and said Dr. Walker's house was on fire. I afterwards found it was the Carlyle Hotel. I ran out to the fire. There was no one there. In about a minute Mr. Lett came np. He burst in one of the doors, aud then asked if any one was inside. He went inside and passed oat some furniture. The window opened at once when I pushed it, so it oonld not have been fastened.

James Lett, deposed : Between 2 and 3 a.m. on Saturday last, I was alarmed by a cry of *' fire." I dressed and ran to the place, and, on getting there, I noticed that the fire had originated in the centre room, on. the eonth end. I helped to get out the furniture. — Cross-examined by the foreman : I was in charge of the house and furniture. I bad the keys of the house. A person might get in without the key. I have seen Mr. MoGnire open the window. Hi oonld have gone though the window if be liked. I consider it quite possible for any oue to get into the bouse, or that part where the fire originated. Mr. MoGuire was in an evening or two before the fire. About 8 or 8.30 p.m. he got the keys, matches, and candle. Some one was with him, bnt I do not know who. I have had great experience at fires. Ido not know how the place took fire. In the room where I suppose the fire broke ont there was a mattress made of New Zealand flax. It was ont down the centre. It was about two feet long. Mr. MoGuire was the last person I know of as being in the house. The furniture belonged to Mr. Ussher, the former tenant.

E. Buckley, Armed Constabulary, deposed : I was aroused by an alarm of fire on the morning of the 25th April. I spread the alarm. I afterwards assisted io removing the furniture. I have since made enquiries of different people, so as to got any information I could respecting the origin of the fire ; aod from time to time report it to the Sergeant of Police. I, also with Sergeant Meredith, met Mr. Taplin in Taranaki Road. He remarked that Mr. McGuire was away, bnt that he (Sir. Taplin) had heard that Mr. MoGnire was seen either going from or coming to town in the middle of the night of the fire. I remarked that Mr. MoGuire had not shown up. Mr. Taplin answered that he might be io hiding. I do not known when Mr. McGuire came back. I did not see him till Sunday morning. I oonsider Mr. Taplin'a remarks were quite as a matter of conversation. I went to bed at between 12 and half-past. I live very near to the house that was burnt. I have not seen any person prowling aboat there. I do not know whether the house was insured. I asked Mr. MoGuire, and he said he could not tell me.

Felix McGuire, deposed : 1 am the owner of the house burnt $ but have mortgaged it to a Building Society. When last in the house, I saw nothing particularly combustible. Mr. H. Black was with me at the time. This was on the Wednesday previous to the fire. The outside door at the back was not looked ; any oue conld get in at that door. I am almost certain that the building is insured, but do not know. I believe it is insured for £300 — I do not know in what offioe. Ido not know who valued the building. Ido not know who set Gro to the place. lam agent for a Building Society lam also agent for the Sooth British Insurance Company. I do not know whether it is insured in that offioe. I consider the building to be worth more than £300. I never offered the house to Or. Walker for £250.

Dennis Sullivan, deposed : I passed the Carlyle Hotel at between 11 and 12 o'clookon the 24th April. I was quite dose to the honse. I did not see any light. I examined the honse aud premises very closely. I did not see any one about, or anything to attraot my attention. H. J. Blaok, deposed : I was in the Carlyle Hotel on the Wednesday evening previous to the fire. Mr. MoGuire was with me ; it was about 7.30 p.m. In the rooms on the sooth side, there was nothing particularly noticeable, as combustible. We looked the doors generally. Ido not know whether the back door was locked. Qoin and Parker told me, on last Sunday, that they saw a light at the house about 10 p.m. on the 24tb. — By a juror : Mr. MoGuire was in every room in the house on the Wednesday, as well as me.

James Parker, deposed : About 10.15 p.m., Qoin and myself took a walk np Taranaki Road. We remarked at the time that there was a light in the Carlyle Hotel. This was od the evening of the 24th April. We did not take particular notice of it, as it was no business of ours ; and we thought very little about it then, but after the fire we thought of it.

Samuel Taplin, deposed : I know nothing about tho fire. 1 heard at the Albion Hotel that Mr. MoGuire was back again ; that he had come home in the night. I did not know anything about the matter. I told Meredith that I had heard so ; also, that I bad beard that Mr. MoGuire was possibly in bis store. Mr. Meredith said there was no doubt the place had been set on fire. He remarked that Mr. McGuire was awny. I then said that I had heard be was back. I did not Bay that Mr. MoGuire was in his store — I only said I had heard so. — Cross examined by Mr . Meredith : I ÜBed the word " heard," not " told."

The jury then retired, and after an absenoe of about ten minutes returned with a verdict to the efifoot that the house was " wilfully set Gre to by some person or persons unknown."

Tabanaki Ibon Sand. — The London correspondent of the Anokland Star writes :—": — " I hope in the course of a mail or two to give yon encouraging news about the Taranaki iron sand. An offer, I hear, has been made for a very large quantity, but about this I will write more fully shortly. The only drawback will be the heavy expouses of lauding it in this country."