THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRE.

Mataura Ensign, 19 January 1910, Page 4

THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRE.

OFFICIAL INQUIRY. CUniSTCHUUCH, Jan. 18. An official inquiry into tee lire w'nul occurred at the Cafe Cecil on January 4 was held to-day. In summing up the magistrate said it seemed to him a matter for very great regret that so reckless and impudent an attempt to destroy the building and property of a number of people should not have been sheeted home to some person or persons. As it was there was no evidence of any person having sufficient interest in the property to burn the place down. He would direct the fury's attention to one point, viz., that the act must hare been perpetrated by somebody who had habitual access to the place. Everything {Minted to that. The outside doors were untouched, and must have been entered by some person having complete access to the building. That narrowed it down to a certain extent, but beyond that it seemed to him it was impossible to go. He therefore regretted, and the jury would regret with him, the negative nature of the inquiry. Still such inquiries were always useful, however negative the result might be, because they showed people that any act of fire-raising would be subjected to the closest and most searching inquiry. He did not think the jury would attach very much importance to the suggestion thrown out by Mr Herman Lewis that ever since the building was put up attempts had been made to burn it down for business reasons. Mr Herman Lewis: Xo. The Magistrate: If 1 did not understand that from you I don't understand English. I don't want to suggest anything not strictly fair or just, and if I misunderstood you 1 am perfectly willing to put it right. Mr Herman Lewis: Three attempts were made to burn the building down. It seems very strange, doesn't it? The Magistrate: You suggest that local people wanted to burn down this place because it was owned and erected by people outside Cliristchurch ? The jury then, retired, and after a short retirement returned a verdict that there had been a deliberate attempt made to burn down the High Street Chambers by some person or persons unknown. A rider was added commending the practical action of Miss Morns in so promptly giving the alarm to the fire brigade.