Royal Oak Hotel Fire.

Manawatu Herald, 20 December 1898, Page 2

Royal Oak Hotel Fire.

VERDICT AND RIDERS.

Tbe Coroner's jury on Fciday returned the following verdiot and riders :—

" We are of opinion that Messrs Grear and Blandford met their death at the Royal Oak Hotel on the 10»h December by suffocation by smoke, which was caused by a false ueoßo of security, produced by the fact that they were some distance from the seat of the fire in a brick building, and they failed to expedite their exit, and were overtaken by tbe smoke that rapidly accumulated after they were timely warned of their danger. " We are of opinion that an error of judgment was made in cot miking

• onr fut neuron of the new wing by he Fire B'-igadc, but rhis was partly lue to Btatmems made to persons who had escaped from the building, hHt all were out paMy.

" And it is regre table that proper, ladder appliances were not brought^ ■ o the fire at an earlier period. " After analysing the evidence, we -ire of opinion that an error was nude by th9 brigade in not concentrating their efforts more fully dfc the new wing at an earlier period of the fire Had they done this the probabilities art) that that portion of the building might have been saved. "The jury consider that the fire -^ originated in the kitohen, but theJjPP 1 is no clear evidenoe to show how it Occurred.

"We think that the Licensing Committee, or dome responsible body, should take into consideration the wbole question of suitable fire* escape and alarms for hotels, pablic buildings and y boarding-houses, and for tbi-t purpose experts should bV, oon n u!>vd. We are of opinion tbat% thp appliances of the brigade are inadequate; that there are not aufil:i<nt men, and the brigade generally require organisation and reconstruction.

Wo desire to express oar condolence with the relative! of the deceased persons who met their deaths in the fire, and also with the Mr Gilmer at the loss of a house so well conducted, and we believe that everything was done by him and his staff to save the lives of the inmates."

The foreman said that the verdict and riders were unanimously arrived at.