FIRE IN GARAGE

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 26

FIRE IN GARAGE

AN INCENDIARY OUTBREAK FINDING OF THE CORONER. WELLINGTON, May 22. “ The conclusions to which the evidence leads me as to the origin and cause of the fire are that it was feloniously set alight in the vicinity of the chain hoist on the ground floor on April 20 about 11.30 p.m., after preparations had been made to ensure the rapid and complete destruction of the and contents. The present inquiry does not disclose the identity of the person or persons guilty of incendiarism.” These remarks were made by the coroner (Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M.) in his finding in the Magistrate’s Court regarding the circumstances of the fire which occurred in the motor garage of W. Birkett and Sons, Ltd. The judgment referred at some length to the insurances on the cars, Mr Woodward remarking that the stock-in-trade of Birkett and Sons. Ltd., was covered by insurance policies totalling £7OOO. This was a substantial over-insurance, the real value of the stock-in-trade being very much less. The evidence of the superintendent of the fire brigade and other experts. be said, was that in their opinion the tops of the cars had been sprayed or wiped with benzine or other inflammable liquid. “An explosion which occurred about the time of the commencement of the fire and which blew out one of the show room windows, is consistent.” proceeded MiWoodward, “with the ignition of vapour from benzine widely distributed about the ground floor. It is clear that had the fire brigade not arrived so promptly the fire would in a few minutes have burnt away the ceiling of the ground floor. The cars garaged above would have fallen through and the whole premises would have been so thoroughly ablaze that no salvage could have been made.” There was further evidence, continued the coroner, suggesting that incendiarism was discovered. On the day after the fire it was noticed that the caps were missing from the tanks of cars containing benzine near the seat of the fire. A count made showed the number of caps removed or missing from tanks containing benzine to be 22, 17 being on the first and five on the ground floor. Evidence was given by an employee of the firm of Birkett and Sons, Ltd., that the tank caps were removed by him for a legitimate purpose and after the date of the fire. “ I find this explanation quite unconvincing,” added the coroner.