GARAGE FIRE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20244, 23 May 1931, Page 5

GARAGE FIRE.

FINDING OF CORONER. evidence op incendiarism. (rases AssoruTios teusoram,) , WELLINGTON, May 22. "The conclusions to which the evidence leads mo as to the origin and cause of the fire are that it was feloniously set alight in the vicinity, of the cliain-hoist on the ground floor on April 50th, about 11.30 p.m., after prepare tions had been made to ensure the rapi<J and complete destruction .of the premises and contents. . The. present, enquiry does not disclose, the identity of tho, person or persons guilty of incendiarism," said the 'Coroner, Mr W. H. Woodward, in his finding in the Magistrate's Court, regarding the circumstances of -the fire which occurred in the motor garage of W. Birkett and Sons, Ltd. " ! The judgment referred at some length to the insurances on-the oars, •jVT.r Woodward remarking, that the; stock-in-trade of Birkett and .Sons, Ltd., was covered by insurance policies totalling £7OOO. This was substantial over the insurance, the real value of the stock-in-trade being very much less! • * . •... "The evidence of the superintendent of • the ■ Fire . Brigade and other experts," said the Coroner, that in their opinion the tops of the cars tyad . been sprayed or wiped with benzine i or other inflammable liquid. An expjosiouji which occurred, about the time of the commencement of the firp and \vhich blew out one of the showroom windows, is insistent with the ignition of vapour from benzine widely distributed about the ground floor. It is clear that had . the Fire Brigade not arrived so promptly the fire would, in a few minute,'have burnt away the, ceiling of the ground- floor, the cars garaged above would have (alien through, and the whole- of the premises would have been so thoroughly ablaze that no salvage could have been made. "Further,; evidence suggesting incendiarism: was discovered on .the' day after the fite. It was noticed that the caps were missing from the tanks of cars containing benzine near the seat of the fire. A count made showed the number of caps removed or missing from the tanks containing benzine to be twenty-two, seventeen being on the first and five on the ground floor. Evidence was given by an: employee of . the firm of Birkett and Sons, Ltd.; that the - tank caps were removed by : him for a legitimate purpose, and after the date of _ the fire. I find • this : explanation unconvincing."