"HAD TO FIND SPACE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 79, 3 April 1928, Page 10

"HAD TO FIND SPACE."

HEAVY SHIPMENT DEMANDS. QUESTION OF BULK STORAGE. An expert explained the reason for the stores being full was that about a fortnight ago a shipment arrived. It.was a question of finding space or allowing the freight to remain on board. Some nine hundred drums of benzine out of this shipment had been placed in the Atlantic Union's store which is now being constructed, some at Winstone's store, and the remainder had been placed in a bond store. He considered that the building had stood up to the fire remarkably well. It was fortunate, he said, that the walls were not high. When the principals came down they were resting on the contents and the tierods had stood up to their work. He added that twothirds of the storage capacity was taken tip with petrol and one-third with kerosene. He said the store was built in eight compartments, there being well walla across the structure. He did not contemplate very much trouble even if the exterior walls collapsed, as the inside well walls would hold the contents.

He explained the conditions under which petrol is stored in the huge tanks which have been built in the petrol area. Each tame is provided with a foniite plant. On an alarm of fire being given, the engine is started up and the lomite pumped into the tank. This forms a blanket and smothers the flame. As long as the foniite was pumped there was no danger of an explosion. There was a second safety provision, however. An earth wall, seven feet high, was built around each tank, making a well (with the same capacity as the tank) into which the petrol could be run and confined. Where case petrol was stored, all they could do was to allow the tire to burn itself out.