WELLINGTON FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 10

WELLINGTON FIRE.

CITY BRIGADE CRITICISED.

COUNCIL ASKS FOR INQUIRY.

HOARD DOES NOT AGREE

#H.v Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON", this dav

The damage caused by the recent fire which destroyed a block of buildings which contained the Wellington fruit market in Court nay Place, is estimated at C'SoO.fMH). Owing to the seemingly iate arrival of the file brigade (whose -tation i- near by) ami its belated ellort- lo extinguish the flame-, a public clamour has been made for an inquiry and a demonstration under similar condit ion-.

At a meeting of the Fire Hoard vestcnlay a request to this effect wa<" received from the City Council. Members Milted that the condition- could not be :■> produced and that in> further inform*lion- \\a-. i.r could I.e. available, beyond the reports of the brigade Mlperinten<iciit. the city en-iineer and brigade -uperintendciit- of other citi,-.

Mr. i:. W. MrVillv ~,0\,.d ,i, al ~ public inquiry In- held in discover the cause of the dilliciuty in dealing with the tin\ but the motion lap>ed for wans of a seconder. A motion «a« j>., .. 1 1 that a reply be sent to the Citv Council advi-inj; that the Fire Board* did no! consider that any further li"ht could be (brown uj,on the tire by any public inquiry, but that it was quite willing \,, a--i-t the council in any way the council inicht think necessary by «av of further inquiry, although the board believed the council niivflit not k -ii.h inquiry arte,it had >een all the report- in the po--sossion o: the board.

Jhe opinion was expressed thar i]., lire .showed th,. ,iece-.itv for imimn.-i..; alt-rations in tli,. building bv-laws relating to the bn-iness block-.