FIRE INQUIRY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 7

FIRE INQUIRY.

Damage in Regent Street Shop. After the hearing of the evidence of eleven witnesses yesterday, the inquiry into a fire which started in a shop at 35, Regent Street, on the evening of. July 31 last, was continued before Mr E. D. Mosley, Coroner, this afternoon. The shop was occupied by Harry Walter Benson Jacobs, and contains stocks used by him in his signwiiting business. Mr Burns appeared for Mr Tacobs Chief-Detective Dunlop conducted the inquiry. ' Constable G. J. Simpson, the first witness this afternoon, said that on the night of the fire he was on night duly and found a crowd watching the fire in Jacob's shop. Witness went to the rear of the shop. There was notody in the shop and the back door was closed, but unlocked. Assisted by three civilians, witness put out the fire before the arrival of the fire brigade. When witness entered the shop the fire was blazing fiercely, and- it was his opinion that it had been started not long before his arrival. To Mr Mosley, witness said the fire was put out by throwing buckets of water over it. Each of the four men would have carried at least half-a-dozen buckets to empty on the flames. Witness added that the fire was on the south side of the shop. He found that the electric signs, which were mounted on wood, were on top of the fire. This, he considered, was what made it burn so fiercely. There was also a quantity of wood wool. He also found that the electric power had been cut off at the meter. There was no smell of kerosene or any similar inflammable substance. Endeavours were made to get into touch with the owner that night, but without success. To Mr Burns, witness said that the back door could have been locked from the outside by anyone who had a key. (Proceeding.)