MANNERS STREET FIRE,

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 8

MANNERS STREET FIRE,

Sir,—After I have approached both police and insurance in reference to holding a public inquiry into the cause of the disastrous fire which occurred last Sunday morning in Manners Street,' and not getting any encouragement in the matter, and through which fire I find myself, as well as other.?, a heavy loser, I ask now through the papers that a public inquiry should bo held, and especially as there was loss of life. But in making the charge, I am not accusing any of the tenants as accomplices in the charge. I say that the police were well informed as to the characters who frequented parts of the building, also as to the gambling which was carried on. I also wish to inform those interested that during the early hours of Sunday morning (not long before the outbreak occurred) a largo crowd of gentlemen left by the back entrance after spending hours over the lovely game of hazards, etc. I state again that I do not accuse any of the tenants of being concerned with it, and I must stato that the owners of the premises knew nothing of it until after the fire occurred. If they had known they would not have tolerated it fivo minutes. All I ask for is that if a public inquiry is hold there will be ample evidence forthcoming.—l am, etc., H. E. MANNING.