The Globe. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1876.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 522, 19 February 1876, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1876.

The inquiry into the origin of the late fire in the Triangle, which was held yesterday, terminated, as every one interested must have expected, in the jury returning a verdict that there was “ no evidence brought before the jury “ to enable them to say how such fire “ occurred.” The fire took place on the night of January 30th, and the inquiry was held on February 18th. It is needless to say that if the detective police force had become acquainted with any facts which could possibly lead to the conviction of any one suspected of the dastardly crime of arson, the Coroner would have, before this, been made aware of such grounds for the holding of an inquiry, and seven weeks would not have been allowed to passover, without a jury being required to pronounce an opinion on the case. We presume that the inquiry was held at the suggestion of the different Insurance Agents interested, but the only circumstance that would appear to have eventuated from the proceeding, is that these gentleman are enabled to get sworn testimony as to the amount of loss sustained by Mr Almao, while the result as f%r as public good is concerned is nil. It will not be an easy matter for tradesmen following the occupation of hatters to get their stock insured in Christchurch. A sort of fatality seems to hang over the business. In the last few years four hatters shops in the town have been destroyed, and on each occasion the Insurance Companies have suffered. “ The burnt child dreads the fire,” and though Insurance Agents must expect a certain number of fires in the year, yet they will carefully avoid meddling with shops, whose ultimate destruction by the flames appears not to be a risk but a certainty. Now, we should like to know upon whom the expenses of the inquiry, held yesterday, will fall ? The Coroner had at first ifiade up his mind that such an inquiry could not be oi any practical service to the community, and therefore that the useless expense of the proceeding had better be spared. He had received no intimation from the police that they had at length got together (sufficient evidence to justify

his calling a jury together. But when the matter is being forgotten, we are suddenly informed that an inquiry is to be held, and a number of gentlemen are uselessly called together to examine into a question on which no light can be thrown. The Inspector to whose hands the collection and production of evidence bearing on the case is entrusted, is only informed of the intentions of the Coroner at a late hour the night previous to the inquiry being conducted. The inquiry is held, with what result we know. Finally the jurymen, irate at being summoned from their business for such a farce, add a rider to their verdict to the effect that f ’ in “ their opinion they are unnecessarily “ called together on the present occa- “ sion, and request the Coroner to for- “ ward their opinion to the Minister of “ Justice.” What relief or redress they expect to obtain from that gentleman we are at a loss to know, but probably the expression of their feelings was a relief to the members of the jury. We are not finding any fault with the system of holding inquiries into the origin of any fires which may occur in the town, but we think that the expediency of any inquiry should be left to the Coroner, and those whose business it is to obtain evidence justifying such a course, and that outsiders, even if they are interested persons, should not have power to bring sufficient pressure upon a Coroner to induce him needlessly to summon together a jury.