INQUIRY INTO FIRE AT SEACLIFF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 4

INQUIRY INTO FIRE AT SEACLIFF

Unsuitability Of Building TAKING OF EVIDENCE TO CONCLUDE TODAY (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, January 19. When the Seacliff fire inquiry was continued today, Henry Mandeno, architect, who, under the commission’s instructions, made an investigation, stated that the nature of the hillside was unsuitable for such buildings as Seacliff, and, when world conditions permitted, the finding of another site should be considered. Refractory patients should be entirely housed in fireproof buildings, preferably of oue story, opening into a walled yard. He considered the building in which the patients had been housed was quite unsuitable because it was two-story and had timber-const-rueted floors, so that lire would sweep through them In a very short time; also because the alarm system was manual and not automatic and the patients were locked in with shuttered windows, while no attendant was continuously on duty. The evidence available pointed to the fire originating in the roof. Sidney Ewen Kershaw, Public Works Department building inspector, said he had in 1939 reported to the department on the unsatisfactory condition of the fire-alarm system, but his report was evidently overlooked. Though a request was subsequently received for an estimate for putting the whole system in order, this work was prevented because of shortage of material in 1940. Ernest Young, electrical engineer, said that after intensive investigation, he had come to the conclusion that the conflagration had not been electrically caused. Dr. Gray, Director-General of Mental Hospitals, said he had occupied his present position for 16 years. Altogether he had about 35 years’ experience of mental hospitals A year before the witness Kershaw had made his first condemnation of the existing system, witness said, there had been a ” - eport from the Public Works Department suggesting an entirely different system of fire alarm which wae to be incorporated with the installation of an automatic telephone system. Further consideration had been deferred because it was impossible, under war conditions to get the necessary automatic telephone “The question of abandoning Seacliff has been discussed by me and several Ministers,” Dr. Gray said. It '™ s recognized that the time was coming when evacuation would be necessary. In anticipation of the evacuation, he had two wings at Seacliff demolished. Witness said the department accepted the views' the witness Mandeno expressed concerning the buildings at Seachft. Oue would never contemplate such a building as ward 5 today,” Dr. Gray added, and it is a fact that for the last 20 years no two-story buildings have been erected for such a purpose.” , , ... Th commission formally adjourned Ull tomorrow morning, the chairman stating that it was proposed that the taking ot evidence should be concluded.