THE FIRE ON S.S. ATUA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 896, 16 August 1910, Page 6

THE FIRE ON S.S. ATUA.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. ■■, ,' (From Oui; Special .Correspondent.) Nukualofa, August 8 An inquiry into the fire on the s.S. Atua was held at the British Consulate, Nukualoia, on the afternoon of August . 8, when it was disclosed that about 100 tons of copra had been shipned at Levuka, Fiji. Tho betches had ;been opened fqr working purposes at Apia • (Samba), and at Vavnu and Haapai (Tonga). The usual attention had been given to the work in the hold, and when the, vessel left the latter port (Haapai) there- was not the slightest suspicion of anything wrong. As soon as the fire was discovered, all possible, precautions were' when, and every effort made to quell the outbreak, but eventually the huld had to be Hooded, which had the desired effect. After clearing the hold of water, and portion of the copra cargo removed,; it was shown that.the fire had'originated lew down in the copra cargo. This discovery quite upset the common theory that tho, outbreak had lieen caused by natives smoking in the hold. The cargo >, in No. 2 hold, consisting of copra, and sugar, and a few sundries, was sold by auction ■Vn behalf of the underwriters. The Court found that no blame was attached tj Captain Jordan and the: officers, who nnd done everything possible for the safety of the-ship and pas- , senders. Tho vessel . has been, only slightly damaged by fire, but the chem. jCal fumes have left the interior of the hold in a blackened cop'dition.-