BALLANTYNE’S FIRE INQUIRY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25447, 19 March 1948, Page 8

BALLANTYNE’S FIRE INQUIRY

Electrical Expert Examined

FIRM TO CALL EVIDENCE ON CABLE After Mr Stuart Maxton Nicol, a testing engineer of the State Hydro-electric Department, had given evidence before the Royal Commission of Inquiry yesterday that the fire at Ballantyne’s on November 18 had not originated in the electrical installations, Mr T. A. Gresson (for Ballantyne’s) informed the commission that Ballantyne’s would be submitting evidence to show that the electricity mains cable was the cause of the fire. “Because of that evidence, it will be necessary to cross-examine this witness at some length,” said Mr Gresson. The cross-examination, which was unfinished after 1 hour 40 minutes, elicited that neither the lead sheathing nor the steel armouring insulations of the cable was earthed.

Replying to Mr Gresson’s questions, Mr Nicol said that if he had been in charge he would not have passed an installation which was not earthed, as it was contrary to the wiring regulations. Mr Nicol’s highly technical evidence took two hours to read.

Evidence was given by the engineer to the Christchurch Gas Company that coal gas could not have caused the fire or the explosion.

Police witnesses who were called did not agree with the theory of Fourth Officer A. S. Shah, of the Central Fire Brigade, that persons whose bodies were found inside the entrance to the mercery department on the ground floor of Ballantyne’s perished there. The Police evidence was that the bodies had fallen from upper floors.