DANGEROUS THEATRES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 157, 19 June 1911, Page 5

DANGEROUS THEATRES

THE GAIETY FIRE.

CORONIAL INQUIRY.

Before Mr. S. E. McCarthy, in the Napier Magistrate’s Court this morning, an inquiry was held-into the circumstances concerning the fire which occurred at the Gaiety Theatre a few weeks ago. The following jurymen were empanelled :—Messrs. W. E. Chapman, J. R. Crerar, S. Jenkinson, W. J. Pallot, J. Campbell, F. D. Smith. Mr. J. R. Crerar was elected foreman.

Mr. Dolan appeared for Messrs. Thompson and Payne; Mr. Lusk for Messrs. Hawkes and Rome ; Mr. P. S. MeLean for Mr. Hunter Brown and his • chaffeur, Mr. J. Pattison.

Mr. McCarthy, coroner, stated that there was no suspicion that the theatre had been deliberately spt on fire, but the inquiry was to find out why such a building was licensed as a theatre.

John Patterson, chaffeur to Mr. Hunter Brown, deposed that he was in Hawkins and Rome’s garage on the morning of the 6th inst. He was engaged in filling the benzine tank of his car, which was in the showroom of Hawkins and Rome’s garage. Mr. Bromley, the clerk at Hawkins and Rome’s, was with him at the time. After pouring in a gallon or two of benzine flames shot up, in witness’s opinion from underneath. The benzine tin that was in his hands caught on fire, and witness eased the brakes and pushed the car outside. Witness had just enough time to get out, as he could scarcely see the door, and the whole place was in flames almost immediately after. Witness had eight years’ experience as a driver, and could not assign any cause for the outbreak of the fire. A fire might occur through a boot striking a nail or a match being trodden on. The car was not hot, as it had been standing all night. He was a smoker, but had not used any matches that morning. Witness saved his car.

To Mr. Smith, a juryman: He had not smoked previous to entering the garage. A cigarette or a pipe would not cause benzine to ignite unless a live spark were to come into contact with the benzine or the gas. To Mr. Crerar : The fire seemed to start from underneath the car, but he was too intent on filling the tank to notice.

Henry James Bromley, a clerk in the employ of Hawkins and Rome, gave corroborative evidence.

To Mr. McCarthy: There were explosions during the progress of the fire. This might have been due to the gas meters exploding. Neither the benzine nor the shed containing it were burnt, in spite of the fact that a small cottage a few yards further on caught on fire.

To Mr. Smith : There’ wa.< a large; amount of ventilation on the morning of the fire, as the doors and windows were opened. The floor was of wood where the car caught fire. The flames travelled in a south-westerly direction, and their rapidity in spreading was due to the age* of the* building and the wind, what there was, blowing in at the open doors. There were no hangings about to cause a fire to spread. Employees entered the room after hours in order to fill the cars with the benzine. Witness thought the employees had been warned against this. These instructions were given verbally, and were not posted up.

To Mr. Crerar : Cars were rarely filled at night.

Mr. Murdoch said at this stage that he appeared for the Borough Council.

Charles D. Kennedy deposed that he was barrister and solicitor, and had occasion to put his car into the garage. Witness heard an alarm from the front shop. Several men ran back and through the door, vv itiiess saw a slight haziness. Immediately after there was a blinding flash through the showroom. He was not smoking. Somebody then threw down an extinguisher m the body of the hall, and witness. assisted by men, tried to o-et his car out, but as there was some doubt as to which direction it should go, they left it too late and it was burnt. It was three or four minutes between the time he heard the alarm and his exit at the back window. Witness intended to get *V e care out by breaking through the back walls with axes, but there was not time.

To Mr. Smith : The fumes arising from the tin of benzine used bv Patterson caused the blaze. Witness had no idea what caused the flames. Did not notice anvone smoking.

John Henry Thomas Munroe, caretaker at the Gaiety Theatre deposed that he was at the back of the shop when the fire broke out, and lived on the premises. He saw a streak of flame in the showroom, and taking an extinguisher went to

tfco scene. Seeing he could do no good, he went upstairs to save his wife. They attempted to ge down the stairs, but the flames barred their way. and they were forcefl to get down a rope. Witness was burnt about his arms and fave when he went through the -howi.-tn ■with the extinguisher. The Hames burst through his bedroom walls jost before going down the rope. During a picture performance the main doors of the building were closed. The budding was often crowded, but could be emptied on an average in five minutes. Il light on some occasions have taken longer. There was no fireman in charge so far as he knew in case an accident should occur.