THE DUNEDIN FIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10131, 6 January 1911, Page 5

THE DUNEDIN FIRE.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY/ J > • By Tek<jraph~Pr.csa "Association, • ;• ; PUNEDIN; Last, Kigbt. The : inquiry concerning iaa ' fira -' ■ v,hich destroyed the Agricultural Hall buildings on the night <f December 22nd was held to-day, before the coroner, Mr C. 0. Graham. * The report of the Superi,iiondeut of the Fire Brigade stated that v-heii-the Brigade arrived on the scene the water pressure was very .igftfc, {Jut I when. the Maori -Hill leaves opened i ; 1 there was ample pressure. JJe was not prepared to state, the ca<re why the pressure was so poor'whau the Brigade started. , Thomas Harrison, a retired schoolmaster, said it was about 8.31) vht-n he discovered the fire abo.it ,the corner of ,Walker Street and Princess street. He saw a constable, and informed him about the hr 9, and •, asked him to ring up the firs bri-. gade. . Constable Havelpck, the. const ilue seen, by said he s.'i >v latter about informed there was a fire in the Agricultural Hall .buildings. Harrison asked him to ring •up the a+fl- . tion, but as, Harrison -s was excited, ■ and witness could see no 'ire, h> concluded it was a) false *»larm. At 8.50 he arrived at the Police Station, and informed t Station Sergeant . • King of the occurrence. King was about to give the alarm when the fireßell rang. * Thomas Ritchie, of the tirrr; of Waters, 1 Ritchie 1 and' Co., f complained of the inadequate water ' p'rfssuie, and David Kunson, scoretury of the National Electric Engineering Company, gave similar evidence. William McCurdie, 1 the acting City Engirfeer, -gave eVideaoe iegarding the wafer supply. " In giving his decision, the"Coror-er said there was no .evidence as to the origin of the.fire. 'lt,was extraordinary that it should been hum--ingiso long before it was di&'oveied, with people actually on the ; premises. It was regrettable that there'had been a. slight delay in notifying the Brigade. He thought that Cjonstable Havelock committed' an- " r error of judgment in not notifying the Brigade immediately le hoard of tlie fire. It appeared that the water pressure at the start waa not i sufficient. Tliis matter shoild be gone into very carefully by tie water department and tlie fire brigade to I see if tlie recurrence of the inar^- 1 \ quate pressure could He prevented."