FIRE INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 200, 28 September 1909, Page 4

FIRE INQUIRY.

AN Oi'EX VERDICT IiETUUNED. The inquiry touching the recent iire in Devon Street was held in the Courthouse yesterday morning, before Mr. 11. Eitzliorbert, S.M., coroner, and a jury comprising Messrs. J. Itlyth (foreman), 11. F. liussell, .1. liennett, S. ,1. Jackson, •James C. .Morev, C. T, Kundle. Sergeant llaiklrell represented the police, and iSnprinteiidont l l '. Jiellringer the Fire Hoard. Mr. F. li. Wilson watched the proceedings on behalf of .Mr. 1,. Marks', ami Mr. W. U. Malone for Messrs. King and Co.

lliumas King, saddler, gave evidence of having left the premises at about 4.15 ,p.m. unci returned at about 0.20 p.m., when he iirst learned of the lire, lie valued his stock and machinery at CHIS 10s Id, which was covered by a [Kilicy of 1550 in the South Uritish'Co. The balance was his los*'. There was a gas stove on -Marks' side of a thin partition separating his premises from Marks'. He had not doubted its safety. The lire appeared to have started just behind the stove, lie had no heating apparatus. His' workmen were permitted to smoke.

Oswald Cook, fiireni.in in King's saddlery bllsine-s. gave evidence on similar lines, adding that just before leaving the shop at 5.25 he had struck a match at his bench (32 feet from the seat of the fire) and lighted a cigarette. There was no sign of lire when he left, lie had recently found Hull' in the wall near the gas s'tove. It had apparently : nine through from the adjoining premises.

Detective Boddam produced a piece of charred wood, attached to which was the gas stove which had held the gas stove in position. On the bracket "was a piece of ivool, not burned at all. There was zinc on the wall at the back of the stove, and behind it was Hull', apparently debris from a tailor's shop, unburn!. He would say the seat of the tire was 1 in King's place. He knew nothing of the draughts in the place, which might, of course carry the lire through the wall.

Alfred Boon, builder, and assistant superintendent of the fnv brigade, said that when he arrived at the fire the water was just being turned on. There was 110 fire in the front shop. He saw that the fire was burniug up the wall between Marks' and King's workshops. A skylight was causing an upward draught. Inspected the premises on the following d iy, Sunday. The zinc on the wall .-ii (iiuid the gas stove was no use as a protection against lire. There were two or three seams in it, and fluffy material between the stove and the zinc. He would have put the stove at least nine inches from the wall, instead of three or four, as it was'. He had no doubt that the fire started behind or in the vicinity of the gas stove. The studs immediately behind it, and the floor for a little distance on King's side, were practically burnt through, and more charred than anywhere else. The fire, he thought, started in the fluff at the back of the stove. He understood the stove had been there for years. Had the fire been burning much longer there would have beo n nothing to indicate where it started. If the stove 'were replaced in its' old position it might cause a fire at any time. It was not safe. By ''fluff" he meant trimmings, cotton, etc., and this was stuff which might smoulder for some time without being observed, although it would (probably cause a smell. The floor on Marks' side was practically not burnt. If si cigarette end were dropped on this fluff tt would smoulder.

Frank Drury, in the employ of Mr. Marks*, tailor, said lie was working until f>.3.> p.m., but luid not used the pressing-irons after 3 o'clock. The withdrawing of the irons left only the pilotlight burning. There were three holes in the back of the stove, but no fire went out through these. It did not burn above the stove. He could hardly account for the stove causing the fire. The pilot light was turned out at 5.f) p.m. When they were heating irons there was dame for only three or four minutes, and the flame came out at the side of the stove. He would have noticed if there had been any sign of fire in the workroom. There wa« practically no heat above the holes at the back of the stove. He had tried it only n few days ago. His bench was about live Yards from the stove.

Marks, tailor, deposed that lie occupied premises adjoining Ring's, and was iii-ured for C4OO, Th L . fire caused him d.image to the extent of t:S4 12s fid. When Drurv left the shop that evening witness was in the front shop, and he noticed the former turn oil' the gas at the meter before he left, He was dressing his front window when the alarm was given. Ran outside, and saw the next door premises smoking. Returned to his shop, but not to the workroom. Did not notice any smell of fire before this. He could not say how the fire originated, and he considered the gay stove safe at all times. No one entered the workroom between the timo Drury left and when the alarm was given*. He would be quite prepared to place the stove back in the same iplai-e. Had all his stock been burned he would have been a loser by .CIOO.

1). MeAllmn, agent for the Northern Insurance Company, said that on March 2!Hh last he, in company with Mr. Rattray, had inspected the risk, and iu his opinion everything was quite safe and there was--good value for the insurance. The company was prepared to hold the policy on the stock on the same conditions. A verdict was returned that there was not sufficient evidence to show how the lire originated.