THE SILVER GRID FIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1917, Page 1

THE SILVER GRID FIRE.

CORONER’S RECOMMKNDA-

TIONS

[7T.lt PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.]

Christchurch, Nov 28

The inquest on the victims of the Silver Grid fire concluded to-day. The Coroner, in giving his verdict, drew attention to the ven T incomplete arrangements made for an escape from fire in the present case. There was a narrow board running along a glass verandah, and there was no "means of getting to the ground from the verandah. One would have to walk along the board and escape through the window of the next door building. The Coroner’s finding was to the effect that Elsie Stack, Frederick William Hatch, and Thomas David Smith, died on the 19th, and Annie Smith, Thomas Edward Gledhill, on the 20th, and Henry Herbert Beere, on the 21st November. That the cause of the death of Hatch was suffocation, and of the other deceased persons, shock from burns received.

There was no evidence to slipw how the fire originated. The evidence shows that the means provided for escape in case of fire were not sufficient for that'part of the building lying to the front of the staircase.

The Coroner said that he wished to add the-following rider to the "verdict: —(l) That it is desirable that no verandahs roofed with glass should be permitted _ on any buildings used as boarding houses or for public purposes. (2) That it is desirable in all fire districts the same power of inspection of means of escape in case of fire be given to the Superintendent ot Fire Brigades in respect of boarding houses and similar public buildings, as is now given to him by the Fire Brigades Act, in respect to places of public amusement.