SEACLIFF FIRE
iMALICE OR NEGLECT DISPROVED DUNEDIN, Jan. 21. The Seacliff Fire Commission resumed this morning, and after taking further evidence, adjourned till February 22. John Henry Tonkin, who planned the original manual lire alarm system, 30 years ago, said experience showed that rats could eat away an installation on wires for a distance of two feet, in which case the inilamable rubber and casing of the wires could be left by rats alongside the wire. It would only need two wires to be brought together, when an arc would result sufficient to cause a lire. Chief Detective Holmes, in summarising the police investigation, said he' was pleased to inform tne Commission that at no time did anything arise to suggest the cause or the fire was malice or neglect on anyone’s part. Many cruel rumours were started in such cases, and all such in the present case, had been investigated and disproved. The Chairman (Mr. Bundle) sitting as Coroner found that all the victims were burnt to death. He extended his sympathy to the relations.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19430122.2.53
Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, 22 January 1943, Page 6
Word Count
176SEACLIFF FIRE Grey River Argus, 22 January 1943, Page 6
Using This Item
Copyright undetermined – untraced rights owner. For advice on reproduction of material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in