SUSPICIOUS FIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19871, 7 August 1934, Page 6

SUSPICIOUS FIRE

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 6. Indications that benzine or a similar inflamable liquid was used to set fire to a building in Vivian Street on Sunday, June 17, were described by witnesses in the Magistrate’s Court to-day during a coroner’s inquiry. The building was occupied by P. G. Brazier, The Chief Inspector of Explosives, Mr R. Girling Butcher, cross-examined, said there were indications that the fire had been deliberately started simultaneously in three rooms. Mr Joseph Creeke, Deputy Superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, said he smelt benzine in Tory street before arriving on the scene. Evidence was given that Mrs Christina Agnes Hall was the owner of the premises which were originally insured for £2500. The amount was later reduced to £ISOO. Her equity in the building was about £2500 and if the building had been totally destroyed her position would have been a serious one. Herbert Edward Barnsley, one of the tenants, said he took out an insurance policy for £75 two days before the fire. He had no idea how the outbreak occurred. He estimated that it would cost him about £175 to replace what he had lost. The insurance company had paid him £lO/2/6. Phillip Gordon Brazier, the other tenant, said he Was carrying on a boot repairing business in the premises. He was not in the building at the time of the fire, having left between 2 and 2,30 p.m. So far as he knew, there were three men in the building. His furniture and effects were insured for £l7O and the stock of the boot shop for £3O. He could replace them for the amount of the insurance. He denied that the goods were over-insured. The Coroner, Mr E. Page, S.M., after hearing the evidence, said he would announce his finding on Thursday.