FLAX CARGOES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 29, 4 February 1891, Page 4

FLAX CARGOES.

IS SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

POSSIBLE ?

GOVERNMENT INQUIRY PROPOSED.

At the usual meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon some discussion took place regarding the firing of cargoes of dressed New Zealand flax on board ship, and bhe probable cause of such conflagrations.

The matter was brought up through an official report presented by Harbour-master Burgess on the fire on board the American ship Leading Wind at the Quay-street Wharf lately, and her subsequent scuttling and sinking in the harbour.

The report was adopted, and Mr M. Niccol (Chairman), in speaking on the eubject, said that he thought the Government should be prevailed upon to authorise an official and thorough inquiry into the probable causes of fires in flax-laden vessels, with a view to determining beyond doubt* by careful investigation whether dressed phormium tenax is subject to spontaneous combustion or not. The question was a very important one., as affecting seriously the large aad growing export trade in New Zealand flax, and no time should be lost in ascertaining the true origin of these mysterious fires. He might say that he himself did not place any faith in the theory of spontaneous combustion. Mr J. Macfarlane thought it would be a good thing to set apart some suitable building, oi perhaps a harbour hulk, in which to store flax for a specified period, beyond reach of outside combustion, and thus ascertain whether it were possible for it to ignite spontaneously. ■ For his.own part he believed that spontaneous combustion was quite possible. Until lately he had held an opposite opinion, but the number of fires which had occurred on flax-laden vessels* and in flax elsewhere, had convinced him that outside agencies were not wholly to blame in cases of this sort. Eβ instanced the two fires which had occurred in succession in a certain flax-store in town, to his mind through spontaneous combustion. Amongst the probable causes of epoataneus ignition might be placed the great pressure to which bales of flax were subjected, as in the case of wool, and the lack of ventilation in the ships' holds.

After some discussion it was decided .to confer authority upon the Chairman tocommunicate with the Government and/ ascertain the advisability or practicability of holding a thorough and searching investigation into the probable causes of firein flax cargoes.