SHOP SET AFIRE.

Grey River Argus, 9 July 1927, Page 5

SHOP SET AFIRE.

A Christchurch Inquiry. DEATH TRAP FOR FIREMEN. (Per Press Assn.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 8. An inquiry was held in the fre at a cycle shop in Addington on June IS, the occasion when Superintendent Warner and two of his mon were injured. Scrgt Murray, in charge of Addington Police Station, gave evidence of taking charge of two petrol tins and an overcoat, which smelt of petrol. Superintendent Warner said tha. owing to an error in the message received, the brigade went to the Linwood Post Office, and not to Lincoln Road, a quarter of an hour was lost. When investigating the fire, witness went up to the attic, where there seemed to be an accumulation of old motor tyres. A tin fell over, and a huge flame immediately burst towards the roof. An order was given then for the men to leave the building. Deputy Supt. Blake gave evidence of finding a tin three parts full or petrol partly covered with an old khaki coat, and the whole of the top of the tin had been cut away. The Manager of the State Fire Insurance gave evidence that the stock was insured for £250 in February. Its value then was £328. At the time 01 the fire the value of the stock was £228 13s !)d. ’ LATER. At tho Addington cyclery fire inquiry, Harold Kogers, branch manager Of the State Fire Office said MeGloin insured the stock in the State Ohin September, 1926 for £250 The stock was then valued at the time of tho fire the stock had been assessed at £l2B. McGlbin, in evidence, said I he would have valued the stock at £-00 at t time of the fire. f The Magistrate: Do you suspec that somebody set fire to the shop . Witness: Well, of course every man has enemies; but I wouldn’t like to lay suspicion on anybody. The Magistrate found that the con teits were insured for at least double the cost of replacement, and be zine was stored on the premises in ex cess of the quantity allowed under the insurance policy. ... n ent on “The premises were wilfully . I fire ’’he said, “but there is not suffi,cient evidence to bv whom.