A FIRE SCARE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6176, 6 April 1907, Page 6

A FIRE SCARE

BISK AT THE EXHIBITION. PEOPLE ADVISED TO ■WITHDRAW. EXHIBITS. APPLIANCES INADEQUATE. The Now Zealand International Exhibition will close on the IGth inst. This may be the reason why there have been during the present week no less than three incipient fires there. At any rate a message has been received to that effect from a well-known in. surauce manager in Chris.church, who states that so serious is the fire risk regarded at the present juncture that if another oubreak occurs several of the companies, including his own, havo resolved to cancel all risks at tho Ex. hibition. ’ Inquiry regarding the question elicits tho information that tho firo npplianoes at tho Exhibition aro. entirely inadequate, and that if a serious outbreak did occur no check could bo offered by tho means provided, for fira prevention within tho building. By a pre-arrangement several Christchurch insuranco men visited tho Exhibition quite recently, and at a preconcerted time several of tho fire-alarms about tho Exhibition wore operated upon, without result of any kind whatsoever. Further, it was discovered at the samo time that the whole of the' buildings were guarded against fire by tho prosenoa of precisely two firemen. A telegram that has been shown to us advises a Wellington exhibitor to lose no time in withdrawing his exhibit, as tile danger from fire, as evidenced in tho three outbreaks that havo occurred since tho beginning of tho week, is an imminent one. That tho present is the most suit, able time for the unscrupulous to attempt acts of incendiarism is patent, to the Je,ast suspicious. There are, dcubticss, many , exhibits, of a character that, suffer by handling, that arc well insured, tho amount of which cover would bo very acceptable to some—particularly those who have not found the Exhibition such a goid-mino as they thought. A well-arranged firo might save them a good deal of expense. and partly recoup them for possible losses during slack times. In view of the enormous value of the, goods in tho Exhibition—tho glorious pictures, for instance —the fire appliances should bo attended to at once, and from this out tlio firemen and police on duty in and about tho Exhibition : should bo strengthened and at tho samo timn asked to exorcise the greatest vigilance. It would bo a calamity to see anything like a conflagration occur after so successful a national venture, and sufficient warning has already been given to justify such precautions.