OUTBREAKS OF FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 4

OUTBREAKS OF FIRE.

INCREASE IN WELLINGTON. BOARD OF- INQUIIIV SUGGESTED. Fires aro becoming very frequent in WcV lington, and something • approaching suauiciori uttaclics itself to a proportion pf. tho outbreaks that havo occurred, tho cause» of winch are held to ba dubious. A short tirao ago, it was proposed that, as a check against carelessness and crimo, an inquiry should bo hchl into every firo that occurred, this proposal was submitted to Suporintondent O'Brien, of tho Firo Brigade. Ho holds that such inquiry into tho cause of a Uro could do no harm, and might do a deal of good, by instilling in tho public a wholesome fear of. the'. detection of anything of a suspicious nature In support of the proposal to set up a board of inquiry, Mr. 0 Brum said that tho number of fires in May in Wellington were twice, as many ps for the samo period last vear! This is rather alarming, for tho' property-holder. It has been suggested that'a compotcnt board of inquiry should bo sot up in each city or town, a fforkablo constitution of winch would'be tho local Magistrate, sunerintondent of tho brigade, and an appointee of tho insurance companies. Such a board need not ncccssnrily inquiro into a fire When tho caliGfl of tho outbreak U patent to nil, but it is suggested that it should meet onca a week, or oneo a month, aB occasion demanded, and should bo given powers author King it to' summon witnesses and collect, ovidenco bearing upon tho case.