FIRE ON SHIP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 7

FIRE ON SHIP

SECOND OUTBREAK

ORDEAL FOR HORSES

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The fire which occurred- in the cargo of hay in an inter-colonial steamer on Monday night, causing the vessel to put back to Lyttelton, is still smouldering and minor outbreaks occur intermittently. Early this morning it was thought that the fire had been extinguished, and during the day a start was made in discharging the hay from the forward part of the hold, but at 5.30 this evening fire broke out again near the seat of the original outbreak and the brigade was called back to the ship. The outbreak was checked after one hour's pumping. A valuable shipment of thoroughbred horses was on board the steamer. These were horses recently purchased in New Zealand by or on behalf of Australian buyers, and were being shipped to their destinations. The consignment included the stallion Blue Horizon, purchased at the Trentham sales for a New South Wales stud, thoroughbreds owned by Mr. V. P. Burnard and Mr. F. W. Hughes, both of Sydney, and others consigned to various Australian buyers.

The horses were in charge of Mr. Burnard, who was one of the few passengers on the steamer. When the vessel was 20 miles out, Mr. Burnard was called by one of the firemen, who reported that a fire had broken out in a hold immediately below where the horses were stalled on the poop deck. It was found necessary to move the horses out on to the main deck, and Mr. Burnard had an unenviable task. Torrential rain was falling at the time, and with the slippery steel deck much difficulty was experienced in moving and tethering the horses in a safe place. The work was completed without serious injury to any of the horses, but Mr. Burnard had an anxious time looking after their safety on the return journey. The horses were quickly disembarked on arrival at the wharf and were later entrained for Addington, where they are now stabled. Mr. Burnard hopes to put them back on the steamer whenever it is decided that she is in order to resume the voyage.