A BELATED INQUIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 86, 20 July 1910, Page 7

A BELATED INQUIRY

THE DEVON-STREET FIRE. At the Courthouse yesterday afternoon an enquiry, instigated by the New . Plymouth Fire Board, "was heid concerning the tire in Mr. R. J. Deare's Boot . Arcade on Saturday night, 23rd April. Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., presided over the enquiry, and the following were !on the jury: Messrs. H. J. Gilbert (foreman), Percy White, J. 11. Hurle. J. , iHavden, and J. Buttimorc. Sergeant Haddrell conducted the enquiry, Mr. ' Quilliam appeared for the Fire' Board, and Mr. Grey for Mr. Deare. Tlie evidence of Mr. Deare was to the ! effect that he believed the lire originated 1 in the workshop, which had not been used that afternoon after 4 or 5 o'clock. He went in there himself between 9.30 and 9.50 p.m., turned out the gas, struck 1 a match and lighted a cigarette, then left the shop and went home with Mr. Nixon, leaving the shop at about ten o'clock, die could not say whether Me , match was extinguished when it readied ' the floor. His stock was valued at £2535, and insured for £I3OO. The . damage to his stock was assessed at £682 4s, and this was paid by the insurance companies immediately. Mr. i Deare also stated, in answer to a question, that there was usually a quantity , 6f litter, such as tissue paper, about the .workshop and rear portion of the premises. Kvidence was given by those who dis--1 covered the outbreak; by Sergeant Ha;l----1 drcll, who, in addition to his evidence : concerning the progress of the fire, : stated that there seemed little doubt I that the lire occurred in the passage where the inflammable material was, as stated by Mr. Deare. The buildings and ' stock affected were valued at £9900, and ' tlie total insurances were £4035, the 1 actual damage being assessed at £1703. > The foreman: Who asks for this en- ! quiry, the police or the Fire Board? 1 Sergeant Haddrell: The Fire Board. 3 The foreman: If you had been taking fc action, would you have waited for this i enquiry ? 1 Sergeant Haddrell: I report to the Coroner. He orders an enquiry if he " thinks it necessary. 8 The Coroner: The mere fact that an ') enquiry was not held earlier shows that e the Coroner did not deem one to be necessary. l- The foreman commented on the delay :- which had taken place in holding the enquiry, and his Worship replied that 1, there was really no need for the delay, s' It might be that the Board felt there was no one but hinis«lf and the present 1- jury who were fitted to adjudicate, and, e owing to his illness, had had to wait all i- this "time to bring them together. Any justice could have presided, or Mr. L. G. 5 Rcid. who had been relieving magistrate e here. He could assign no other reason for the delay. , Mr. Qnilliam stated that the enquiry was asked for soon after the lire. Once l " the application had been made, the matter was out of the Board's hands. 'j The Coroner said there was 110 suggestion of incendiarism. He had thought, when the enquiry was asked for by the * Fire Board, that there might lie somes' thins of that sort, but it appeared merelv that the Board felt that in the in- " terests of the public an enquiry should be held, that they should ask Sergeant "f Haddrell to collect: evidence to prove >o that there was a lire, and then ask the 1- Coroner and jury to -ay how it occurred, e, The jury returned a verdict that there 1- was no evidence to show how the lire originated, and added a rider that the 1- jurv considered that when an enquiry I(. was deemed necessary it should be hei 1 immediately after the lire, foi dc!a\ a* in this ca>e eonipletely nullified any good that might result for an enquiry. 'S Mr. Quill'am explained licit, the delay was 110 fault of the t-ire Hoard. The Coroner concurred in the views ,0 expressed m the rider. II The foreman added that some ol the [s jurymen were ot opinion that the Boaid should have state:] its reason for reII (]ucstin:> an enquiry. 1, .Mr. ijiiilliam: The Fire Board is a i_ stalutorv body, and not accountable foi ils actions to this or any other jury._ ( | The I 'oroner. however, concurred with Mi-. Gilbert's remark, and said it would ' have been better had the reason been stated. He could see 110 reason for cu- ' quirii"." into this niece of ancient history.