NAPIER FIRES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 112, 14 May 1931, Page 7

NAPIER FIRES

EVIDENCE OF CHEMISTS I Per Press Association. I NAP [ER, May 13. Further evidence was heard at the inquiry into the fires following the earthquake on February 3. When the hearing was resumed, Robert Henderson, superintendent of the Hastings Fire Brigade, gave evidence of experiences with chemists’ shops after the ’quake, stating that he found one shop full of fumes. Another was found tu be well alight and fire had started in four other buildings in HasEvidenee tu damage to Napier’s water system was given by William Douglas Corbett, assistant borough engineer, who detailed the Joss of water through breakages in the mains and damage to reservoirs and pumping stations. He said there was no water for fire-fighting an hour after the big ’quake, but added that a water suction pump had been put into the receiving tank iri Dalton street, and that the fires in Hastings Street had been fought with water from that source. To his knowledge there were only two salt water wells in Napier which were available for use at present, these being situated in Clive Square and Miller Street. He gave details of others which, had been filled in. Witness said lie would certainly recommend the sinking of further wells in Napier. J. B. Woodson, borough electrical . engineer, gave evidence that tho power was cut off' at Napier immediately following the big ’quake. Witness was certain that there was no power coming into Napier after the first big shock.

Practically all Napier’s chemists testified that the only cause of fire in their premises could have been the direct application of a nuked flame to inflammable stock. Most gave evidence that they kept ether and other such liquids in a storeroom away from gas jets.

Arthur Hobson said he had phosphorus in stock, but it was in a cellar. A. fire burst out almost immediately in his premises. Stating that he spoke from experience, he said that phosporus would nut burst into flame immediately on exposure. Harold Ellerm, also a chemist, said that most of his stock fell off the shelves, and the bottles were broken. No fire started there after tho ’quake However, witness said he knew of his own knowledge that four other chemists’ shops, Maney’s and Thomas’ in Emerson Street, Spackman’s and Beck’s in Hastings Street, did not catch fire from within their own buildings. The lire reached them from other buildings. Questioned by the coroner, witness said that fire other than by matches, could be produced by sulphuric acid and sugar on paper, or by phosphorus. The former was hardly likely. In a chemist’s shop phosphorus was kept in water in bottles and would take about an hour to dry and produce flame. He could not think of anything to mix with with nitric acid to produce a flame. Fumes of volatile substances mixing would scarcely produce enough heat to produce a fire unless exposed to a naked flame. Similar evidence was given by other chemists. This concluded all the evidence called by the police. Mr Girling Butcher expressed the opinion that further inquiries should be carried out in an endeavour to trace other origins of fires The coroner, to Inspector Cummings: Is it in your opinion suggested that the earthquake lire originated from chem-i.-ts’ shops? The Inspector; No. Ido not suggest tiat by any means. All 1 say is that fi Gm tho evidence heard to-day there are three direct cases where fires actual iy did originate in chemists’ shops. The inquest thou adjourned sine die for the purpose of further inquiries.