FIRE ENQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1916, Page 7

FIRE ENQUIRY.

OUTBREAK AT NIPPERT'S-SHOP, The circumstances surrounding the fire which recently occurred in Messrs. Nippert Bros.' premises in Devon street were enquired into by the Coroner (Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.) yesterday. Mr. P. C. J. Bollringer appeared on behalf of the Fire Board, Mi-. J. H. Qnilliam represented the Guardian Insurance Company, and Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared for Messrs Nippert Bros. Frederick M. Doughtv, station-keeper at the Central Fire Station at New Plymouth, said the alarm of fire was given at a quarter to two in the morning, and it was found that the building was. a mass of flames. The larger volume of \he fire appeared to he at the hack of the building, and the roof was all wrapped in flames. Difficulty was experienced in extinguishing the fire, because the more water was put on two - drums amongst the stock the worse the fire became. These stocks contained carbide of calcium. Water would not extinguish the carbide, and the presence of the carbide caused greater' damage to the building' than would have been caused if the carbide had not been there. .Subsequently the fire amongst the carbide was extinguished by throwing earth upon it. J. S. S. Medley, agent in New Plymouth for the Guardian Insurance Company, said he held a policy for £llßs on Nippert Bros.' stock, 'the amount was composed of four policies. The first of £IOO was taken out in 1010; the second of £2SS s'hortly. afterwards; the third was for £300; and the last policy was £SOO, taken out on May 17, 1915. In addition to the £llßs there was £lls insurance for stock contained in the sheds at the back of the shop. Up to May, 1915, the insurance on the stock was £BOO. In the fire the whole of the stock, with the exception of that in the sheds, was destroyed. The stock in the s'heds would be worth from £250 to £3OO.

F. W. Hall, a chemist at N«w Plymouth, stated that the effect of carbide of calcium being exposed to damp air would be that it would generate intense heat and liberate quantities of gas. Cigar or cigarette ash would ignite the gas. To prevent the gas being produced the carbide should be hermetically sealed. Henry W. Nippert, a member of the firm of Nippert Bros., said he visited the shop twice on the evening before the fire—about 7.15 p.m. and again about 10.5 p.m. Witness was by himself on both occasions. After leaving the shop on tlie last occasion witness went. home. After hearing further evidence, the Coroner said he was unable, on the evidence, to come to a conclusion as to the origin of the fire.