THE WILLIS-STREET FIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1901, Page 5

THE WILLIS-STREET FIRE.

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. THE CORPORATION'S POSITION. REFERENCES TO~THE LICENSING COMMITTEE. The evidence given yesterday afternoon at the inquest as to ,4he tire at the Oriental Hotel, Willis-street, will 'be found on page 2at this issue. On the resumption of proceedings to-day» Captain Hugo was re-called, and in answer to a. question from the Coroner, | said that it would nob be an advantage to the city to reverb to the old system of having a watchman on the tower at the Fire Brigade station. He pointed out that one of the witnesses examined yesterday (Chisholm) said that immediately upon going downstairs he rang up the Fire Brigade station, and was told that the brigade was then on its way to thfe fire. Mr. Martin said he could not say whether the Corporation had made ©ufc a list of the number of persons the Oriental Hotel could legally accommodate. It was decided to call the Acting Town Clerk upon, this point, v Sampson Williams, assistant Inspector of Buildings for Wellington under the Municipal Corporations Act, said that he served the notice (referred to yesterday) upon the owners of the Oriental Hotel, calling upon them to improve the fire-escape appliances at the hotel. Knew at the time of his inspection, that the hotel was a large boarding establishment. If it had been used by, cay, only a dozen people, he would still have thought the escape equipment insufficient. His requisition was based* upon the numoer of rooms, their position, and the possibility of the house being at any time crowded. If what he had prescribed had been carried out, he would have thought the escape, equipment sufficient; knew that the partitions in the hotel were of wood, covered with scrim. If plaster had been used on the partitions, the fire would sot have spread so rapidly. It would be beneficial if , in all cases, plastered walls were insisted upon, in hotels. > To the Foreman — In all new hotels it . would be advantageous to avoid long, i narrow passage*. The witness continuing, said* he had inspected some 900 buildings since he was at the Oriental Hotel. To the Foreman— The Oriental Hotel was the first building inspected after his appointment. To Mr. Myers — Went round to the Oriental Hotel with Mr. Schwartz, architect, on the 18th November, and pointed out the improvements required. Mr. i Schwartz then said that he had been instructed to put the work in hand. Mr* i Schwartz, who •acted for the owners, did not raise any objections to witness's requisition. There were four hotels in the city — the Newtown, Tramway, Britannia, and Panama — which were served with notices similar to that served on i the owners of the Oriental, and the i period named had expired without the notice being complied with. A humi her of hotels had complied with the notices served upon them. To Mr. Martin — The time given in the case of the Britannia Hotel expired on 10th, September ; Newtown and Tramway Hotels on 9th November; and ' the Panama Hotel on 10th November. Robert Tait, Acting Town Clerk, said that the house list stipulated in sub-sec-tion 4 of clause 352 of the Municipal Corporations Act of 1900 had not been prepared by the Corporation. So far as he knew, there was not at present any limit to the number of persons who might lawfully sleep in room's in a hotel such as the Oriental. Had not pointed out to the City Council that such a list was required under the Act. Had been aware for some months that there was such provision in the Act. Had not read the Act right through. Thought Mr. Page, Town Clerk, had mentioned the matter at one* of the Council's Gommittee meetings. Thought the matter would have received attention in due course, the appointment of a Fire Inspector being preliminary to carrying out the provisions of the Act. Could not say why the Inspector was not appointed immediately the Act came into force. Was not acting as Town Clerk • at that time. Did not take op the duties until April last. To Mr. Martin— The District Health Officer had not made a report to the Corporation under subsection 2 of clause 252 of the Municipal Corporations Act. (This subsection, refers to tho allotment ; of proper air-space in bedrooms). Mr. 'Martin said it was in the power of the District Health Offioer to compel the local bodies to carry out the sub- , section he had quoted. Witness said he was aware that the Government lad issued regulations prescribing the form of certificate for persons laving houses requiring fire escapes. But the regulations did not give the form of procedure required to obtain those certificates. The Corporation had adopted regulations referring to common lodginghouses, in which conditions were laid down, in regard to air-space, etc. These regulations came into force on 1 28th November. They did not apply to hotels or private houses. He could not say why hotels had not been included. Whether a hotel was a common lodginghouse was a legal question, and one he could not answer. Perhaps this point rested with the Licensing Gommittee. Sergeant Cruickshank— No. David Hilyard, who occupied room 24, opposite the staircase and room 12 (top .floor) on the night of the fire, said that when he was awakened by cries in the passage, he could not get down the staircase. There were flames between his room and the staircase. The flames were over his door. He had to crawl along the passage, and got away by ' the main, fire-escape. He did not know 1 the time. George Packer, portrait-painter, who ' occupied room 28 (top floor) was also 1 examined. He said he got away by the staircase, the flames • chasing him 1 down. When he first saw the flames '■ they were about room 11. There .was ; a rope in his room, which overlooked Willis-street. 1 . G. G. Schwartz, architect, said that • on 15th November he saw Captain Hugo and Mr. Williams concerning the equip- ' ing of the Oriental Hotel, and inspected the hotel with Mr. Williams on the 18th. \ He received his instructions from Staples and Co. (the owners of the hotel) a few daye previously He put work in hand

ab once for providing the escape appli* ances — called for tenders, and the con* tract was accepted either the day before the fire (Saturday) or on the Monday following. The contract was to supply appliances for other hotels besides the Oriental, belonging to Staples and Co. All the notices served on Staples and Co. had been attended to, and two, others besides. The firm had ireceived 27 notices, 12 of which stated that the escape appliances were sufficient, and all the requisitions had been or were being attended to. Mr. Myers said that Staples and Co. did not feel that they were compelled to do the work they were called upon to do to their various hotels by the Corporation. Delay in carrying out tha work, he was informed, had been caused by the consideration of certain legal difficulties. ; Constable Kirby, also examined, said he gave the alarm 1 of fire to the Brigade at 2.10 a.m. by the town, clock. Inspector Pender said that in May, 1899, he made a personal inspection of the hotels of the city. This was just after the Koyal Oak Hotel fire. A special circular upon the subject of fire escapes in hotels was at that time issued to all - the police offices from the Police Commissioner's office. During his inspection he visited the Oriental Hotel. He then found all the bedrooms equipped with ropes. Did not consider the fire escape .equipment sufficient, though the house was not so largely used by boarders as it was more recently. Gave notice to the licensee to provide fixed ladder escapes, fire-alarm bells, and . plain notices as to the means of escape. The work 'was not carried out before the sitting of the Licensing Committee, and the matter was adjourned for 14 days, the licensee receiving notice that if the work was not carried out the license would not be renewed. The license in the meantime was suspended. During the fortnight some members of the Committee visited the hotel, and at the end, of the 14 days it was found that tha required work had been carried out. After May, 1899, sub-inspectors of police were given charge of the inspection of, hotels, and Sub-Inspector N>uson and Sergt. Cruickshank carried out the work. Recently witness and his sub-inspector consulted about the Oriental Hotel, following upon a report furnished in October by the Sergeant, who had pointed out that the fire-escape equipment wag hob sufficient. Witness came to the decision, that ladders and a platform should be provided as a further means of escape. This was included in his report to the Licensing Committee, which sent a notice embodying the recommendations to the licensee. Witness was aware that the Corporation was taking tteps about this time in regard to the hotels of the city, and the matter passed out of the hands of the police. Did not think the Licensing Committee had visited the Oriental Hotel since 1899. Was of opinion that if oil {he fire-escapes invented were placed^ upon a building like the Oriental Hotel they would not ensure complete safety, once the building caught fire. Nothing that he could think of could ensure absolute safety. It was highly necessary, of course, that a proper equipment should be provided for all buildings, but people acted in a most eccentric manner in times of fire alarm. They seemed to make for ropes quicker than for any other means of escape. To Mr. Wilford — It was a marvel to Mm that the people escaped from the hotel. Had the fire started on the ground floor instead of on the top floor, the result would have been different, and more serious to life. To Mr. Martin — The \licensee was the only person recognised by the Act under which the police acted. (Under the Municipal Corporations Act the owner is made the responsible person.) .The Coroner said that if any defect in the Act prevented the Corporation carrying out its instructions, then the Licensing Committee should step in and say — "Very well,, we will not renew a license unless fire-escape equipments are completed." ■ The Licensing Committee had wide powers, and such a stand would be effective. The witness said the police made quarterly reports upon hotels to the Licensing Committee under section 44 of the Licensing Act, and the Committee acted under section 38 with regard to provisions for fire-escapes. A report from the police to the Licensing Committee on 16th June, 1899, stated that the equipment of fire-escapes wag complete on that date. Sergeant Alex. Cruickshank, who said he was on the scene of the fire immediately after the alarm was given, deposed that he inspected the hotel in May, 1900, and in the same month of this year. Since May, 1900, a double-rope ladder from the top floor had been the only addition to the means of escape in the house. He understood that the whole question of the equipment of the hotel had been settled by the Licensing Committee in 1899. In 1900 the equipment seemed to him sufficient, as it was not so much used by boarders then as it had been lately. When he made his inspection in October this year he saw a rope in Arthur Law's room. He detailed: the appliances in the hotel. Notices and "pointing 1 fingers" were put upon doors and in the passages, giving directions concerning the fire-escapes. After making an inspection in October last, he recommenced the Licensing Committee to direct; that escape appliances should be added to, as Mrs. Watson was using the house to its full capacity with boarders. He recommended that platforms should be constructed at the first and second floors fronting Willis-street, with iron ladders connecting them, and also that there be platforms to the north and south wings at the back, with ladders leading to tho ground. Did not think Mrs. Watson knew fully what witness had recommend-" cd. This report would come before the committee after the fire had occurred. Had the recommendations made by witness and the Corporation been carried out, the only injury that might have been avoided would have been CharlesBell's. No appliances whatever would make 4 wooden hotels safe or brick hotels absolutely safe, but a proper and sufficient equipment lessened the likelihood of accident. Witness thought Crawford had missed the staircase on escaping from his room, and had wandered on round the passages. Before he gob back, the fire had spread and cut off his escape down the stairs. To Mr. Martin— The Oriental Hotel had been gradually filling up during the past three or four months. It was embarrassing that there should be two sets of authorities, one dealing with the licensees and the other with the owners of hotels, and neither the Corporation nor the Licensing Committee knowing what the other was doing. Mr. Myers said, the police would be only too glad to receive suggestions for the Licensing Committee from competent persons of the Corporation staff. Mr. Martin said he intended taking legal proceedings on behalf of the Corporation against the owners of the hotels that were mentioned early in this morning's sitting, and also against some othes persons. The Coroner said that as it might take .. some months for the Corporation to get its decision, the Licensing Committee should at once proceed as if there were no Corporation in existence. Mr. Myers said the suggestion just made might be sent on to the Licensing Committee. The Committee had just adjourned for a fortnight, so that the recommendations could come before it almost at once. At 1 o'clock the taking ol evidence wai

concluded, and the inquest was adjourned until 2.15, when the Coioncr summed up. THE CORONEK'S VIEW, .ur. Ashcroft said he had allowed i wide Kcopc to the enquiry, not only because of its piibiic importance, but beof.use such latitude might lead to the prevention of the recurrence of another disaster of the kind. There should be no difficulty In finding a verdict as to the cause of Crawford* s death. There was no doubt f the deceased was in an unusually excited condition. The jury might add to their verdict that he had time to escape safely if he had taken advantage oi the opportunity. There was a good deal of evidence indicating that the fire originated in either room .No. 11 or room No. 10, and although the matter had not been definitely settled, the bulk of the evidence pointed tc room No. 11 as being the seat of the fire. Captain Hugo had pointed out that no delay -took place on the part of the Brigade in getting to the fire. The notices of the means of escape from the hotel were not sufficiently clear for occupants of the house to locate the position of the escapes at once. There should be sufficient printed notices in hotels to enable lodgers to find at once the means of escape. Some confusion had resulted from the Legislature taking - the responsibility for the supervision of hotels as to fire-escapes from Licensing Committees and giving it to Corporations. Confusion had also resulted from making owners, instead of licensees, responsible for the carrying out of necessary works. There had not been a satisfactory explanation for the long delay of eight months, by the Corporation in , not appointing a Fire Inspector under the Municipal Corporations" Act. The Act came into force in January last, and the Inspector iwas nob appointed until Ist' September. Then, again, after serving the owners of the Oriental Hotel with notice to make the necessary equipment, there was a further delay of twelvte idayis. Such delays wouL' not havo been possible with private business people. In any recommendation he would ask the jury to construct it on this basis — (1) It was admitted that the Licensing Committee had full powers ; (2) it was doubtful whether the Corpora-, tion had full powers until some legal' decision was obtained. , Several months Would elapse before the legal question was decided. Why should not the police, if they approved the recommendations of the Corporation's Inspector, . forward* those recommendations to the LicensVhg Committee, and give the committee the opportunity of saying to the licensees, "You must fulfil these re1 commendations within a reasonable time, or your licenses iwill be imperilled at our naxt sitting?" The Coroner suggested that the jury might make some commendation of the promptitude and courage of Burrs, the night porter, and added- that it was for the jury to say whether Mrs. Watson had done all that was in her power in regard to the totel. The jury retired to consider the verdict at 2.40 o'clock, and had not returned, when we went to press.