ORIGIN A MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1928, Page 10

ORIGIN A MYSTERY.

COMBUSTION THEORY SCOUTED. VIEWS OF ENGINEERS. "As far as the origin of the fire is concerned nothing definite is known," said Mr. Ceorge Winstone, junior, this morning. "When the caretaker of the building locked up on Saturday all was normal. Just after 1.20 yesterday afterno on Watchman Wright, of the Atlantic Union Oil Company, noticed smoke coming out of the western side of the building. Where the fire started there were only six tiers of cases, about nine feet high, so that the statement that the fire commenced between the roof and the cases stacked very close thereto is incorrect. Concerning the theory of spontaneous combustion, it is difficult to understand why, if the heat of yesterday caused this to take place, the fire [ had not happened much earlier, during the hottest part of the summer. Up to the present it is impossible to say how it was caused. There were no windows on that side of the building, therefore it was impossible for the rays of the sun to penetrate. Investigations are being made and we will immediately make public any conclusions reached."

I Regulations Deficient? | When the matter of spontaneous combustion was referred to prominent engineers and others interested in the theory the opinion was expressed that such a conclusion was premature. It was considered, however, that the Government regulations in connection with storage of oil in certain well-defined parts were not all that they should be. It was suggested that the principle adopted in America should be put into vogue here, that ia to say, that each bulk storage tank or building containing • list*, or other oils should have a capacious tank or wall surrounding it. "You must have a flame or a spark to ignite benzine," said one speaker. "It would be possible to put a tin of benzine into a hot oven without anything happening." He mentioned that by way of illustration, although he did not Bug' K«st that it would be a wise thing to