THE RECENT CHRISTCHURCH FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 708, 6 January 1910, Page 5

THE RECENT CHRISTCHURCH FIRE.

I Ci|::(Byi:Tefeßraph^PreßaJ-Aasocjrii6ri.v';y: : : ,-'JAn CafeSCecil':; buildings;?: ■. or;: Street Chaniters,■':; which.)"' occurred' , 'early(lay^mbrhiag^wa^Vpened^by^Mr/VH^^.- , .■Bishop,,.; ;the-.'chief;-dbtectiye'.;hidirepbrted'Uo" : ;U jregardingv-the^icircumstaricea;which\ : surr 1 ''l'Oundedr'ani-incipientVifire'wMch' recently; i viCafe j .CeciTv biiildijigs. v !-i , b.V/ppU&^hadv''yery^'^ong^reas'pn'; ; ;b : elieve-' ; .^at'.the/ ; ;flre^'.-was'>the: : wbr£'.of^an : .' ;incßndiaryi f; 'circumstances fas, possible; :5b ?-as;'.;to: sheet. ; hbme : ,.tbe^ 'sonj?prs^ersoss, ; "iiren^Hnces?^.ylt^va > s.;n^nifesti i ■jtiry; as'; men • through 'a- 'large; h're;;.'and : lit,; wis. {almost inconceivable :that ■ people ■ should :be .guilty ;•' 'of:a'n-act of;that;sprt.-J,The-pplice.report-had. ; : strong treason' itb sus■pect'. thatKtheie • was a" deliberate .'attempt' to' ■ setythei' building, -pri, firel/vAf ter..- : hear-: ;ing'othe-eyidence'.;of T >' the jjdelectiy'e '-'.staff,:; it'.would ;.b'e.'necessary-'to/adjpu'rn'fthe'vinT: (luiry:s in; border lioji allow.;; the;; police'..; to. ■collect j'V'-

v-:DetebtiTe>'Eade'Mid4hat;.'at;3.;n';tri. : :'3reß-. ■iorday;^lie':;was-;calle'dUo.;make ; inquiries' The premises used as. offices,'and; teaV, body :o£ the firo, was ;.iu.. the.yestibulG, or ••by:-Meswf\:Kmg>" i 'and;'\Qpycn"svnatiente..'Tho fire •vas. i :for'the ; -roost -:part :in;' the ; saddlebog' i 'couph^and'/'sofai^'Jvlupli; ; --had. ■.been' placed near tte yrall; ■ '•The, room.. Had .a , -strong.',einelli of petrol. pr>be'nzinbi" and; about., two;'gallons;iwere"\foiiiid:-;,ln; tho; ibackyarclr'Vere '■';■ a :pair-Vof /'men's /about;size 'seven, .and: ini.the.'"soles! wero 1 a^;-number l'oi'- ■Bla'c l .tey's •:protectors;;':■.Ono. boot^Hvas-on;the'r'oof of a'■small.'lean-tb, 7 and the other.;-was; on aibagibflcoaLi.vßy the "side of .tlie boot oil' the ..bagr';pf;,coal waa'an' insh-bit,-ami-lie later ;.;found .that the : doublo:foWirig:;doors--'in•'■the :yestibule had'been-vbored;• riqa'r • the ■;lock;■ with'•' a \'similar:';biti;vTfiis'."bil;:;nad.':alsb..'beett';iised. ■pn.-thp.,wall ofj-bnei'of: the.dentist's[■ robin's, , ' arid:';a" strip , :; of..;plaster ■'and '_' a.lath ,bad' been pulled r p(rtvA-.box had;recently:bebn. unpacked, .■andVthe'.'.papking ' and. sawdust (apparently.-''saturated; with'-"benzine ;or petrol) ;had : been .placed along, the. wall ■Ijyi.the,'couches. ;;i. The.'furniturev.-in ■the; (lentisf s'.rooms .had been brought, in'tp the .vestibule;'witb:; : a.view, to.'.giyjng the fire. a' goqd!,'start.y : .-b':-i> .'■ ,; --'i"''•■:;.;;•>?■:■' v," ::':. :■:.:■■ V. : i\t this Stiigej the inquiry was adjourn-; cd till •Janikiy.; 18,' and ..the'.'jury went to! •A'ie'w .;;,',.' ■■ ■'.•,;''_■ '■*".."■■■":'