A FATAL FIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8088, 27 December 1906, Page 3

A FATAL FIRE.

UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) H pHRISTCHURCH, Dec. -if,. A fatal fire occurred in Christchurch early yesterday morning ■when Thomas Laidlow, a young man, '25 years of age, lost his life. The • fire broke out in an old building used as a boarding house. Though the fire brigade was quickly on the scene, it was impossible to check the flames. Laidlow was missing from the list of occupants, who escaped, and his body w4tfe subsequently found lying on a bed in a room wheie the tire had been fiercest. As the body was found on a bed other than that on which Laidlow slept, it was evident that he had tried to escape, but was | overcome by smoke. The body and clothing wete not very badly burned. Whflf the inquest opened yesterday, the coroner said that bottles and other things found in the house suggested that there had been a i.'o .d deal of drinking during the evening. He also expressed himself strongly against allowing such an old and dilapidated building to stand in the city. There were, he added, rumours p 1 it unusual circumstances surrounding the hre, and the police desired to make further inquiries. The inquest was therefore adjourund until Saturday.