WOOL FIRES' COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 18 March 1907, Page 2

WOOL FIRES' COMMISSION

Per. Press Association. Cln'istchurch, March Ifl. Tlie Wool Fires' Commission is holding an (exhaustive enquiry Into the recent lire at Belfast. Several witnesses were examined this morning, but none were able to account for the five. Incendiarism wis not expected, the spontaneous combustion theory was not favored, and all electric current for lights had been shut oil' early. Tho Commission is still sitting-. Mr. W. Murray, manager of tho Christehureh Meat Company; Mr. i\ Wnynioulh, .managing director of the Canterbury Frozen .Meat Company; Mr. (T. A. Elite/ 1 fellmonger at (he Belfast Freezing Works, and Mr. 11. E. Morgan, foreman of the Dry-wool Deportment, were examined, but none of the witnesses could oiler any delinile suggestion as to the cause of (he outbreak of the tire, except that a spark from the <:]iiiun?y might have been blown into the upper story through Hie corrugated iron roof.

Charles Stewart Edwards gave evidence in respect to a fire that' occurred in some dressed ilax at Kaiapoi about 32 years ago. He said that after the (lax had lain in a heap for some lime it was seen to collapse and steam was observed to rise from it. The heap was ''broken out," and he observed a distinct red glow in the centre, whereas the outside was untouched.

Other evidence was heard, and the sit' tiug closed at 3.30 p.m.