ORIGIN A MYSTERY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 July 1925, Page 5

ORIGIN A MYSTERY.

FIRE ON THE CANBERRA. EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY, -SY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT SYDNEY July 9. The disastrous fire on board the interstate steamer Canberra, when berthed at the King Street wharf, was recalled to-day, when an inquest was held concerning the death of Stewart R. Craythorn. who was killed by the fire. The coroner returned a verdict of accident;*, death from carbon monoxide poisoning, caused by the fire, but the evidence dia not enable him to say how the fire originated.

The chief officer of the lire brigade gave evidence that when he reached the wharf the ship was well alight. What seemed strange was that the fire had made such headway before the brigade received the call. Counsel for the owners of the Canberra said it might be suggested that the fire started in the carpenter’s cabin, and witness replied that it was impossible to say where it started. The water policeman who gave the alarm gave evidence that when he noticed the outbreak smoke and flames were coming from the carpenter’s cabin. A steward stated that when he went to the pantry about midnight he saw the ship’s carpenter (Fleet) with an open flare light in his hand come from his cabin and go towards his locker. Fleet gave evidence that he was perfectly sober that night. He went to bed at eleven o’clock. He woke up coughing, and he could hear the fire crackling, but there wa s no outbreak in his cabin. Witness dressed and went to the assistance of the firemen. He emphatically denied that he E

gone to his locker with a lighted flare. He was in bed before the lights were out.