THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2703, 6 January 1910, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRE.

AX OFFICIAL INQUIRY

{Pr.n Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 5. At the instance of the nolice. Air. Bishop, S.AL, held an inquiry into the fire at the- Cafe Cecil buildings. High. Street, in which a deliberate attempt to fire the block was discovered in time to prevent a serious conflagration. The coroner stated that the detective staff had strong reason t-o believe thatthere was incendiarism, and the closest searching' inquiry was desirable. The act was not- ouly incendiarism. but was bare-faced and unaccountable. He called preliminary evidence to show the necessity for an inquiry, after which the jury visited the scene, and the inquiry was adjourned to January IS.

Detective Eade stated that the conflagration was, for the most part, in a. saddlebag couch and sofa, which hadbeen placed under the wall of the room. It had a strong smell of petrol or benzine, and about two gallons thereof were found in the backyard. A pair of boots were found, also an inch bit, which had been used to bore through the wood of the double folding doors. On the wall of one of the dentist’s- rooms, from which a- strip of plaster and a lathe had been pulled off. a box had been recently packed and the packing and sawdust, apparently saturated with benzine or petrol, had been placed along the wall by the couches.