The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1916. THE FIRE ENQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1916. THE FIRE ENQUIRY.

In perusing the evidence given at the fire enquiry last Friday, two or thm matters are to be noticed. To begin with, apparently no statement was forthcoming, and no comment wag made, as to the reason an enquiry was not called earlier. It appears ridiculous to wait for three weeks, until all „he debris has been removed and with it any evidence that may have thrown light. upon the cause of the outbreak, and when the recollection of material witnesses may have been dimmed, before an investigation is held into one of the most disastrous and mysterious conflagrations in the town's history. The authorities failed to call the only material witness as to the origin of the fire, namely, Mr. Maxwell, of Rahotu. He was stopping at the Coffee Palace and was unable to sleep because of an attack of neuralgia. His room commanded a view of the buildings, and he stated to press representatives tliat he saw a flicker at about two o'clock, which was almost immediately followed by another flicker- He got up, and was about to return to bed when he looked out out could see nothing. Suddenly there was a big flame ivhich he could see over the hoardings that had been erected around the old premises of the A.M.P. building. Now, Mr. Maxwell, a trained observer and a man of sound judgment, was positive that the fire first appeared .011 tue A.M.P. side, the light being reflected on the far wall separating the theatre and A.M.P. buildings. The brothers Nippert, sleeping on the Devon street side of the Coffee Palace, were awakened by noises, and, a light reflecting on their window, they looked out and saw flames coming from under the State Fire Insurance office. The statement does not conflict with Mr. Maxwell's, There seems to be some conflict in regard to time, and the weight of evidence is that the brothers were in error in this respect But our point is, why was not Mr. Maxwell, who saw the incipient stages, and was in the best position of ail to judge as to the seat of the fire, called by the authorities? The evidence of the police and the others was without importance, excejit to prove that at two o'clock everything was apparently normal and that a few minutes later the building ■vere enveloped in flames. Again, Mr. Kenner, the contractor for the A.MP. buildings, does not appear to have been asked as to the temporary lighting of the building in process of demolition. Hurricane oil lumps apparently were used. Could the gale blowing at the time have caused one of

tliem to be upset? This is an obvious question. Why was it not asked? The;-, me other points, but we have said enough to show that the enquiry was liadU bungled ar.d almost valueless. We omy trust that future enquiries—and thenshould i;e an enquiry into every firewill be more searching and efficient