CARGO RE-CONDITIONING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 3

CARGO RE-CONDITIONING.

A COMPLEX OPERATION". SALVAGE FROM CANADIAN PIOXEKR. The show ground at Alexandra Park has presented an unusual appearance during the past three weeks, when the salvaged hemp from No. 2 hold of the Canadian Pioneer, in which (ire broke i out on February 1, baa been undergoing reconditioning. The paddocks and fences for many acres have been covered with a mantle of fibre, and although the weather has been mostly unfavourable for drying, to date 400 bales have been reconditioned and transferred to dumping stores in the city for regrading. There were in the ill-fated hold over a thousand bales of flax and about 1600 bales of wool. The flax was sent to a contractor at Epsom for reconditioning and the wool was distributed among three large fellmongery works about the city. About GOO bales* of wool have nowbeen returned to the dumping stores. and this with the flax which is deemed tit for export is to be shipped on the Canadian Pioneer when she sails on Friday. I Though the process of reconditioning I appears to be a simple one at first sight, ; there are several aspects which make it a I complex operation. When the wool and i flax is placed out in the sun due care Jiaa to be taken to keep the different assortments together and to re-label them according to the original markings. This matter has been rendered more difficult, by the fact that there was twelve feet of water in the hold, and the tabs in some'cases became Obliterated. As the l>al»*s are returned to the dumping stores they are re-weighed, and in the case of the flax, regraded. A good deal of both products was burnt and scorched, and will have to be rejected. Practically all the flax was shipped at southern ports, only 20 odd bales having been loaded at Auckland before the lire broke out. When the final assessment of the damaged products as well as the other cargo is ascertained, that which is short and that damaged or of inferior quality after reconditioning will be assessed in the general average. It is usual for all shippers to insure their goods, but a? there are different kinds of policies the question of loss may fall on the general average or on the underwriters concerned.