TURAKINA FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 23, 22 October 1907, Page 8

TURAKINA FIRE.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. The magisterial, inquiry into the causo of the Turakina lire was resumed yesterday morning. -Dr. ( M'Arthur presided, and there were with "hiiii Captain Willis and Mr. W. (}. Foster, assessors. Mr. Myers appeared for tho Marine Dapart•ment, and Mr. Johnston for the New Zeal•awl, Shipping Company. Mr. Hankins whtched the proceedings on behalf of the Hew Zealand Flaxmillors' Association. jj. N. A. Burns, manager of tho New Zealand Shipping Company, stated, in reply ti{ Mr. Myers,- that'.ho was able-to trace all the Turakina's cargo, excopt part of the Auckland cargo. Ho could not traco tho consignors of the flax in No. 1 'tween-decks hold. Tho valno of the cargo was about £J.SU,UUO ? ■Recalled,. Captain Forbes stated that ho, saw nothing in connection with the insulation service that, would account for the fire. ;William :Bendall, Lloyd's Surveyor in Wellington, gave■: evidence as to the condition ofi cargo, etc., after tho ship arrived in Wellington. He had never seen matches taken into the holds by men. There was a timo when workmen used to be stripped of their co'atsand waistcoats and the garmonts given, toj oliicers; that was not dono now. When ho used to supervise on behalf of the' Underwriters' Association he gave instructions to 'that effect. He frequently refused to ship Jlax when he was supervisor, because it was in. a dangerous condition. He did not agree with Captain Forbes that tho bales had ignited inside; he believed they had burnt for some time and tho firo had gone through from the'outside. Ho saw'all the flax discharged from tho Turakina;.on Saturday last he went to Miramar to inspect the flax, and there . was flax there, covering about a quarter of a milo iiv length, which, if ho had been' inspector on behalf of tho Underwriters, ho would not have allowed on board; not, at least, without another opinion. In his opinion it was not properly, dressed;. it was fibre and • the loaf,, and would bo liablo to fermentation. Roughly, the flax referred to would amount to two.or three bales. He brought away, samples of it (produced), aiid was,surprised to find so much in that condition. It was impossible to say whether the lire originated in wool or (lax. '.-'..

To Mr. Johnston: It often-happened.that bales woro dono up very nicely ou tho outside, but were very indifferent inside. The flax lie referred to had iprobably been on the inside "of the bale. Ho had not seen a case of spontaneous combustion, but ho had seen the fermentation which was supposed to be the fororunnor of combustion. The Court then adjuorncd in. order to inspect vflax and wool taken from the ship, 'and.'cbnveyed to Kilbirnio. . The enquiry will be resumed o nWednesday at- 10 a.m.