THE STEAMER APARIMA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 204, 28 August 1902, Page 4

THE STEAMER APARIMA.

STILL ON FIRE.

PARTICULARS OP THE OCCUR* m > ■ RENCE. •vflfffi

(Received 10.3 •a.m.)

. ALBANY (W.A.); tjfciis day., j: The fixe is still iburning in the coal, bunkers of the Union CompanyV ste4mer Aparima.

DETAILS".OF THE OC^URRENXE.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star : ")

WELLINGTON, this day,

Particulars of the fire on.the Uni. Ob Co.'s s.s. Ajparima /were eagerly, looked for on arrival of the s.s. Mouch wai this morning from Sydney. THe Sydney papers contain the following additional information:—

: . PERTH, August 22.—The steamer Aparinia, which, left Singapore "lor .Wellington on August 8, arrived lat .Albany yesterday morning on fire* 43 she entered the harbour, a.dense .volume of.vapour was rising from/tfie forward bunker, and .the hatches, -the ship. from the funnel to. bow heingl e;,i\ eloped, but no flames were visible. ,X:h.e cargo .comprised mainly' jute, rice, tea land spices. On leaving Singapore all -went well till Sunday last, when it was noticed that the coal-in the bunkers ■was. smouldering. There was, however, nothing to cause uneasiness. At eleven yesterday morningl it was discovered that the fuel had taken fire in the forward bunker.

Water ana steam were at once poured into the ignited compartment, -but it was scon apparent that tie bulklieu'l had become sufficiently, heated to fire the cargo. The hatches of the No. 2 hold were removed. With the admission of air the flames, famst forth, and rose above the bridge. It was discovered that the bulkhead was red-hot, and mucih cargo was alight. Water and steam were poured down, and the men were then able 'to....remove the .fier}' portion of -tla cargo. When the.flames in the hold "were subdued water was again pumped into the bunker. , v

At three o'clock, when the "seriousness of the case was apparent, Captain Courbariron decided to put back to Albany, seve^nty miles distant. Before Albany was reached the hold was again closed, and a six-inch steampipe was laid on to overcome the out* break. .. . ' J '

EXTENT OP THE DAMAGE.

A cable was received at the Wellington office of the Union Company! to-day stating that the Aparima's damage was ■ extensive, but whether tb the cargo or the hull vras not mentioned. The cargo consists of 6800 tons, distributed as follows:—Wellington, 1200 tons; Lyttelton, 800 ions; Dunedin, 2250 tons; Bluff, 2550 tons. Captain Courbarron was 'formerly of the company's s.s. Wha* rigape. He proceeded Home and took delivery of the new vessel in Scotland,

It is intended to bring the damag* ed steamer to Doinedin as soon as temporary repairs have 'been effect cd.