SYDNEY SCENE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 172, 23 July 1941, Page 5

SYDNEY SCENE

FIRE IN SHIP'S HOLDj I THREAT TO CREW'S QUARTERS, 1 (0.C.) , SYDNEY, July 19. More than 4000 tons of water were poured into a liner at a Sydney wharf jon Thursday to quell a fire in a copra] hold, which is believed to have been caused by sparks from an oxy-weld-ing plant being used on the 'tween deck. The Maritime Services' Board's four fire-floats were rushed] to the ship, but it took 2£ hours'i hard fighting to get the fire under control. The ship was then listing

and down 14ft at the stern from the quantity of water which had been poured into her. When the fire threatened thei crew's quarters, the crew rushed for their belongings and threw them onl to the wharf. One sailor staggered out of a smoke-filled deckhouse with a rooster, which the health laws forbade him to bring ashore. However, while the sailor had got tangled up in a writhing hose, the rooster escaped Ifrom his hand and flew ashore. Because the unprecedented drought on the Sydney catchment area has I lasted more than six years and the j I water position is now becoming really serious, Archbishop Mowll hasl, ordered prayers for rain every Sun- - day. The Bishop of Goulburn, Dr. i |Burgmann, said people should pray inot for rain, but for the enlightenment lof the Water Board to the urgent < I need of bringing the water of thej t | Snowy River to Sydney "It is notj, jfair to blame God for Sydney's water] shortage," he declared. jl I Pointing out that Sydney's water!' istorage was greater than that of any other city in the world in proportion! to population, the Water Board T president, Mr. Upton, said the i bishop should not make such frivo-' lous remarks. Other members, accused the bishop of a cheap jibe. The State meteorologist. Mr.!, Mares, said: "People usually pray for," rain when they are at their lowest l [extremity. This is usually when a| ( idrought has run its natural course.', Rain naturally comes then and they J , think their prayers have been - answered." i ! "An ingenious and remarkable 1 ifraud. directed by a master mind." was how the Crown Prosecutor in! |Melbourne, Mr. C. B. Brown. Me-c (scribed a case in which George!'Stewart, 36. was charged with having 1 ' iuttered and been in possession of a!' forged consumer's license and appli-j 1 cation for petrol ration coupons. He'i was said to have filled in applications;? for 125,000 gallons of petrol. The case is proceeding. r Mr. Brown explained how the' chairman of the Victorian Petrol Con-|I trol Board and detectives had hidden!t behind a partition in East Melbourne't Post Office until Stewart had comej in and presented a consumer's! license, car registration certificate u and application for petrol coupons.!' The date of issue and the license, 'class entered on the consumer's' ■license were incorrect. m