THE RECENT FIRE.

INQUEST.

A Coroner's enquiry into. the origin of the fire that occurred in Balclutha on the morning of  Tuesday, 28th ultimo, was held by Mr Fleming and a jury in the Courthouse on Saturday last. The jury having been sworn, and the other preliminaries observed, the following evidence was led : —  Peter Mason : I am a bootmaker, residing in Clyde street Balclutha. I am the proprietor of three sections fronting Clyde street.  Next to my shop, towards the south was a shop occupied by Messrs Wright, butchers. Next the butcher's shop towards the south was a shop occupied by my daughter, a dressmaker. The front room was a shop, with door and window to the street. A door led from this shop to a room behind, which was used as a workroom, the window of which looked into the right-of-way, at the end, between it and Gawn's shop.  A little before three o'clock on Tuesday morning last, the 28th ultimo, I was wakened by the dogs barking furiously.  I rose, partially dressed, and went outside to ascertain what the disturbance was.  On reaching the dressmaker's shop, I saw a glare of light proceeding from the window of the workroom — I noticed that wall was on fire about halfway up. At that time I saw no other fire except that wall burning.  When I first went to the back door behind the dressmaker's shop, the door was standing open. There was then a strong wind blowing in the direction of the door. I remember Mr Gawn arriving at the scene of the fire. It was just when I left the back of the premises the second time to go to the front. Mr Gawn then suggested we should get inside the building. I replied that I had tried to get in, but could not, as the smoke was too thick. The buildings above referred to were all burned down, also the shop and house occupied by James Kim. 

Thomas Gawn : I am a saddler residing in Clyde street, Balclutha. My shop is next to Miss Mason's dressmaker's shop, there being a right-of-way between. While lying awake in my bed on Tuesday morning someone tapped at my door. I got up and went outside. I then noticed a glare, of light in the window of the back room or lean-to to Miss Mason's shop. The back door was shut. I went close to the window and looked into the room — the division next to the butcher's shop — when I saw a heap of, some  material on fire. . This material was on the floor about the centre of the room. It was burning very furiously. The room was full of smoke, and I could not see the walls. The back door was then shut. Peter Mason and George Lawson were then standing near to the back door. I asked Mason whether he would not open the door, and he replied "no ; it would let the draught in." When coming from my house to Miss Mason's back door I was in sight of the workroom window, but there was no glare or appearance of fire about it. I am quite sure there was then no fire visible about that room, nor about the roof or chimney. When Mr Mason declined to open the back door I went home for a bucket of water intending to throw it in at the back room window, but when I returned the workroom was all in flames inside. I then went home and took measures to protect my own property. I heard no dogs barking while I was lying awake before hearing the tap at my door. When I saw Mason and Lawson standing at the back door I believe Lawson had an overcoat on ; Mason had no coat on. 

Kilgour said he threw two half -buckets of water in the direction of where he had seen the fire get up.  The wind was blowing very strong in at the back door. I then passed along Gawn's right-of-way to the front. I saw that the dressmaker's  workroom was full of smoke and flames.  I did not notice Mr Mason after he opened and closed the back door. I did not see Lawson have an overcoat on. I did not see Gawn. When I first went to the scene of the fire my opinion was that it could have been put out with two or three buckets of water if the parties had entered by the front of the building. The Coroner, in briefly summing up, said the evidence, like that at the great majority of inquests on fires, was unsatisfactory. In the present case it was peculiarly so in consequence of several discrepancies between the witnesses regarding important points. In judging of these discrepancies, however, it was necessary for the jury to keep in mind the position in which the witnesses were placed at the time. People suddenly wakened out I of sleep to face their properties in flames could not be expected to have all their wits about them, or be able afterwards accurately to give every detail of the events and circumstances that transpired. The jury returned a verdict that there was no evidence to show how the fire had originated.