FIRE AT PICTURE THEATRE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17220, 10 August 1921, Page 5

FIRE AT PICTURE THEATRE.

REPORT BT SUPERINTENDENT WARNER. V ■■ An outbreak of fire at tin* Liberty Picture Theatre recently was reported upon by Superintendent Warner at the meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board last night. , The Superintendent statwd that during the temporary disablement of the Lake Coleridge supply, a small outbreak' of fire occurred at the Liberty Picture Theatre on July 16th last, and the following copy of letter'was sent to/the town clern in connexion therewith':- . Ee flre at Liberty Picture Theatre.—-At about b.io p.m., on Saturuay, dUiy lbiii, m. amau outbraai ot nre. oucuritsu. at the ,auove luoaire, cuuwd oy bads-dring' ou tho carburettor ox toe stana-oy pmiit wnica was Being used, owing to tue temporary disablement ot me .Lrtute Cozenage eupjjjj. "iniraeat&teiy tne unwice entoiea. tne aduitoruuu, some pe.aon at tne baaic oi too siaue ca»it~ out-'iuol" Xho buii/Oing at suatjtime was in semi-darknea*, and tua auaieaoo downstair* rose en b*oc, and a large nuuiuei tUßn&d into the nifties to get out oi tue exist lirbt, in lact, one young woman wan seen wanting on tne tops oi too backs vi tuft, chairs in her anxiety to g«t put ol tne buiioing. lam iaiormed on icuab.e authority taat the auoieace' were aaaoat panicstricken, and had it not been for one ox twu gent.oman oaUing out to the peopia to keep their seats, a serious disaster would most iijce.y have to be recorded. . Xhe water was turned on from tne - building's own euppij-, and the fire cxtinguianea; the gas ci-oi> li&ats weie uo tmned up, and tno auuic&ce, or most of tnern, leie given pass-oal checks to' attend the periorfci&oce ttiioti,ei evening. 1 might mention tnai the occiurxanea actuary tooat p»»ae wit»iia toa otn-rt <v>ao» oi two jninuto*, aad W^. übova ota-.0-ujont ujont 'qui b« iu.tl} nuWy.ntia.WU by indapaudaat t>f»-ytHnotna, li OCectvmy. , (Sijacd) ChiM», O. "fitxiux.

Mr J. ili Camovon Bnid he happened 'to m? present' in. tno tneatre ou. tiie night oi' the lire, nncl could carroboiate ail that was said in the report. Mr A. WiUiams (chairman): There was a nro and y;>ry nearly a panic. Mr Cameron: Very nearly. Mi- Williams: 1 tnink the public should be made aware of these things to justify' the actions of the Boaixl from, time to-time. j The report was received.