ANOTHER FIRE INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 149, 23 March 1928, Page 5

ANOTHER FIRE INQUIRY

RECENT OUTBREAK IN WILLIS STREET

FIRE BOARD TAKES ACTION

The first inquiry under section 65 of the Fire Brigades’ Act, 1026, was held at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, at the instigation of the Wellington Fire Board, when investigations were made into a fire which occurred in rooms occupied by Alfred William Phipps, tailor, at 80 Willis Street, on the night of January 4 last.

Mr. 14. Page, S.M., conducted the inquiry, Mr. G. G. Watson represented the Fire Board, and Chief-Detective Ward watched proceedings on behalf of the oolice.

Mr. Watson said that the board considered that the circumstances were such as to lead to the conclusion that a deliberate attempt had been made to burn down a portion of a building, 80 Willis Street. In this building, one Alfred William Phipps, a tailor, occupied a room. When the brigade arrived they discovered evidence which pointed conclusively to the fact that an attempt had been made to set fire to the premises.

Thomas Burton Clark, deputy-super-intendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, said that the brigade received a call by telephone at 9.51 p.m. on January 4 to a fire at 80 Willis Street, owned by Mr. A. 11. Wallace. The. building was an old one of two floors. The brigadesmen got into the upper story through a window, and proceeded to a room occupied by Alfred Wijliam Phipps, tailor. Phipps occupied three rooms here, and the brigadesmen got into his waiting-room by forcing a locked door. There was a Yale lock on the door of the waiting-room, which was the seat of the fire. The fire was smouldering when the room was entered. Witness smelt kerosene .in the smoke. 'The fire had commenced about the centre of the floor, and had travelled up the walls. An old telephone directory', saturated with kerosene, was found on the. floor. There were other papers in the room. Witness made investigations, and found that the oilcloth on

the. floor was damp. On examining it further, he found that the oilcloth and the floor boards underneath it were damp with kerosene, while there was also a splash of kerosene on the wall. A. tin containing kerosene was also found in the next room. On forcing the lock of a door, another room was entered. Witness then communicated with the police. On making inquiries, witness found that Phipps had a cover of £5OO on the stock in the Sun office, •while the owner had a policy for £l5OO on the building in the Royal Exchange office.

In answer to the Magistrate,-the de-puty-superintendent of the. fire brigade said that he did not find any traces of kerosene in the second room entered. He did not form any estimate of the value of the stock on the premises. Hugh Pope, station officer in the Wellington Fire Brigade, said he attended the fire in Willis Street on the night of January 4. He noticed signs of kerosene on the floor and on one of the walls in Phipps’s waiting-room. _ Both doors had to be forced and the window was closed. A crumpled telephone directory, found on the floor, bore traces of kerosene. Acting-Detective Frederick James Robinson said that he was sent to the fire, and upon arrival found the flooi covered with kerosene. He estimated that a quart of kerosene had been dis*, tributed over the floor of the waitingroom. In the farthest corner of this room, he found kerosene under the linoleum. He produced a telephone directory, which he had found charred in the 'waiting-room. It had smelt strongly of kerosene. He also produced a portion of the linoleum taken from the floor of Phipps’s waiting-room, which, he stated, bore traces of kerosene. In his opinion a deliberate attempt had been made to set the place on fire. In reply to the Chief Detective, witness said that there were two keys to Phipps’s rooms, Phipps having one and a workman another. Witness interviewed Phipps in connection with the fire, and took a statement from him next day. The Magistrate asked if it was intended to call Phipps Chief Detective Ward said the police were not calling auv witnesses. Mr. Watson said he did not care to make Phipps one of his witnesses. He was not sure that Phipps knew that the inquiry was being held. ’ The Magistrate: I certainly think he should be called. In answer to the Magistrate, Mr. Watson said that the claim had been settled bv the insurance company for £149.

The Magistrate said he would like to know whether the contents had been over-insured.

Douglas Blair Roberts, chief clerk of the Sun Fire Office, said that his company had a policy of £450 over the stock and £5O over the fittings of A. W. Phipps, tailor, of 80 Willis Street. After the fire, a claim was made, and his company paid out £149. The policy was taken out in December, 1927. Mr. Watson: In December last, several smaller policies for small sums had been consolidated by Phipps into one policy?—Yes. The Magistrate: Did you know the amount of the stock when the policy was readjusted ?—No.

CO 111 pel y p«2JU UUL iJll'' * was taken out in December, 1927. Mr. Watson: In December last, several smaller policies for small sums had been consolidated by Phipps into one policy?—Yes. The Magistrate: Did you know the amount of the stock when the policy was readjusted ?—No. Is it not customary for insurance companies to inspect. insured stock from time to time ?—No. Is that the usual custom with companies ? —Yes. The inquiry was adjourned in order to secure the attendance of Phipps, but after the expiration of an hour, Mr. Watson announced that it had been unable to locate Phinps either at his place of business or his home. The inquiry was thereupon adjourned until noon to-day.