THE KAPANUI.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 192, 13 August 1909, Page 5

THE KAPANUI.

HULL DESTROYED BY FIRE. MACHINERY TO BE REMOVED. The fire which occurred on board the Northern S.S. Co.'s steamer Kapanui at Warkworth yesterday morning wrought such havoc that it i 3 considered the hull of the vessel has been destroyed beyond repair, and the company have decided to remove the boiler and machinery. What will be done with the hull has not yet been decided, but it is understood that it will be either sold or destroyed. The Kapanui was towed to Auckland by the s.s. Paeroa last night, and was taken round to the Hobson-street wharf extension this morning to have her boiler and machinery lifted out Of her. The paeroa brought the Kapanui into port shortly before 1 o'clock this morning. The Kapanui was berthed at the Railway wharf, where she was the object of much curiosity. A pitiable sight ivideecl is the Kapanui. Formerly the greyhound of the gulf steamers, she is now a derelict. From the forepart of the ep.gineroom aft there is complete devastation. The deck and cabin have been eaten out of the vessel, and the debris suggests little of what formerly existed. Cabin fittings, decking, and all have been scooped out, and all that is left is a small heap of charred remains, with half-burnt waiis rearing up on either side. The iron work round the deck remains, but it is so distorted that it only accentuates the distorted condition of the wreck. A cursory glance at the engineroom does not suggest much, but closer inspection shows that the copper work and soft metal fittings have been eaten away; while, of course, the compartment itself has been reduced to a skeleton. The fire also extended into the after part of the forward hold, charring the sides and decking. The cargo, amounting to less than a ton, was discharged at Warkworth, and it has not been ascertained so far that it has been damaged. Captain McManus and his officers and crew are reticent as to the and practically little that is new has been gleaned. The fire, as stated, was discovered by the chief steward, Mr Ashton,about 5 o'clock yesterday iriorning. He was asleep in the saloon, and was aroused by the intense heat. The flames -were then bursting out of the enginerootn skylight and saloon companionwfty, and by the time he had given the alarm the after part of the vessel was a mass of flames. Most of the officers succeeded in saving their belongings, but the second steward was less fortunate, rfhd had to , leave hig cabin in a suit Of pyjamas, losing all his effects. When the inflammable material in the saloon had been consumed, the brilliant glare produced by the flames gave place to heavy columns Of smoke; poured out of the vessel oil all sides. As soon as the townspeople became ac- ; quainted of the occurrence* the menfolk gave the crew what assistance they could in an endeavour to extinguish the flames. Work at the mill aftd other business places was suspended, and all hands turned out to help suppress the fire. In its early stages Captain McMantis attempted to subdue , the fire by taking the vessel into mid-stream, and ,although unsuccessful in this endeavour, he managed to get her clear of the wharf and sheds, which had been in danger. Owing to the intense heat in the en-gine-room tlie crew found it impossible to redch the pumps, and as there was no chance of scuttling the ship), owing to the low tide, Captain McManus adopted the only expedient by removing the vessel awrty from the wharf. Aided bythe townspeople, the crew then applied buckets of water to the flames, but no apparent effect was produced until well into the morning, when it was seen that the fife was gradually dying out. By noon it was extinguished. The Paeroa arrived at three o'clock; and an hour later the Kapanui was taken in tow for Auckland- On the way up a call was , made a-t Waiwera to land a lady passenger by the Paeroa. ANOTHER OUTBREAK. When the vessels were in the Kangitoto Channel, shortly before midnight, the lire broke out afresh, this time being located iii the bunkers. In the words of Capt. McManus, it was but a spftrkj Nevertheless no chances were taken, and a considerable quantity Of watef was poured into thenffected area. The fife Was extinguished in less timfc than' it tikes to relate, and the voyage was completed without further incident.