The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-01-06
INVESTIGATION INTO THE ORIGIN
OF FIRES.
from the Fireman..

From the Fireman.
Fifteen years ago, a Committee of the
House of Commons reported IN favor of the
institution Of official investigations into the
origin of fires. The op;onion and reasons
OF the committee were supported with
singular unanimity by the witnesses exam
ined by them who protested to have given
any attention to the subject; and their
decision received then. and since the APP
proval of most people whose opinions have
any great claim to consider ton. During
all that time no step has been ken towards
carrying out this recommendation, and it is
not too much to say that unless something
is lone to forward the work of Parliament,
another twenty or even fifty years will find
us in the same position with regard to the
establishment of fire inquests and to many
other questions, as we are to-day. In other
words, there will be no immediate likeli-
hood of getting so much as a decision, aye
or no, with regard to them.
This we state as a fact which will, by
most, be admitted. Consideration of the
causes of the deadlock, and the manner
of applying a remedy, in itself perhaps
not difficult to indicate, however tempt
ing to us as members of the community
interested therein, we must pass over
here, rs beyond the Ffrenaan's cogni-
zance.
The chief advantage that would accrue
from a thorough investigation into the causes
of fires, would be the discovery Of incendi-
arism, in cases where this is not now pos
sible. The discovery and classification of
the cause of fires, furnishing correct Stats
teal information. and bringing to light
with some certainty latent hazards. would
be another. Both results would tend to
diminish the number of fires. and the Court
of Inquiry would therefore be an efficient
means of fire prevention. When a fire
occurs, there is, prima tacie. either crime
or culpable negligence; generally, it is true,
in England the latter. The KIN ,wledge
that full inquiry would certainly be made
into all circumstances surrounding a fire,
would directly tend to deter the incendiary.
and make-most folk more careful in their
ordinary doings and ways.
Should it become possible under any inn
proved method of parliamentary procedure,
to obtain Legislative sanction to Nh enquiry
of this nature, there would be no difficulty
in establishing a proper court for the pur-
pose. A choice might be made of three
tribunals which suggest themselves as
adapted to the work. There is the Coroner's
Court, a movable and very flexible insti-
tuition, and therefore excellently suited to
in the same way as inquisitions are now held
into the circumstances of uncertiied deaths.
OF course. in London, the coroners who I'M
dertake the latter. and whose work is
already enough, and more than enough for
them (corpses, we are told, often waiting
for days in unsavory surroundings, to be sat
upon by those functionaries). could not
undertake the fresh duty of inquiring into
fires but special men with a coroner's
authority and emoluments might easily be
appointed. All the police machinery now
available for the assistance of the present
coroner's court would also be available for
this in the provincial districts. probably,
no fresh appointments would be rendered
necessary. so that a minimum of trouble
and expense would be incurred by forming
our Court of Inquiry in this way. Or it
would be optional, but hardly perhaps so
polite, to appoint men of legal training
and experience, with the status and author
ity of s~tipendiary magistrates. who might
hold courts, OF certain fixed places. at fixed
times sitting without a jury. The only
advantage such q tribunal would afford over
a ~coroner's court, would be that in the case
of incendiary fires. it might better be empow-
cred TO commit suspected persons direct to
Assizes or Quarter Sessions, without the
formality of another police court investi
cation.
In either case we see NJ reason why every
fire, such as a small blaze originated by a
curtain catching, or a lamp being upset,
should be dragged before the Court of In
quiry, especially in London il is evident
to investigate thoroughly 2 900 fires in the
300 working days of the year, would be an
impossible task unless very extensive ma
chinery were provided. The initist tory
work could always be lone by the Inspector
or superintendent in charge of the police
arrangements of the district in which the
fire occurred, who, if he were satisfied as to
the cause of the con1agration, might issue
certificate to that effect, without further