"EXPENSIVE FIRE.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20648, 24 June 1935, Page 7

"EXPENSIVE FIRE.”

Was it Caused by Engine’s Spark? INQUIRY OPENED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, This Day. An inquiry was opened to-day by Mr F. K. Hunt. S.M., as Coroner, into a fire which destroyed a timber mill at Morningside on December 1. 1934. The inquiry was instituted by the Auckland Fire Board, whose counsel said at the opening that he hoped it would be an inquiry into the safety measures taken by the Railway Department. The fire was a very expensive one. and the board was very apprehensive as to the damage that might occur next summer, unless something was done to minimise the risk. The evidence would show that the fire originated immedately after the passing of a train. It spread through grass and attacked the mill, wbich was rapidly slight. Evidence would also be given, added counsel, as to the number of fires allegedly caused by locomotives. Counsel for the Railway Department protested that it must not be assured as a certainty that a locomotive started the Morningside fire. Counsel for the board replied that if that was established they should inquire as to the further steps which should be taken to prevent a recurrence. Evidence was given by a woman that in the afternoon of the fire aft soon as a train passed she smelt the smoke of grass burning. Afterwards she saw smoke rising on the mill side of the railway embankment. The mill was not then alight, but she ran to get her husband to beat the fire out. Witness said that grass fires in the local it y were frequent. (Proceeding.) SHOT IN ARM. DUNEDIN, This Day. While duck shooting near Henley yesterday afternoon. Joseph Wilson, 17 years of age. of Henley, accidentally •hot himself in the right arm. He was admitted to- hospital with severe shock.