FIRE ON STEAMER KAIKOURA

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 174, 11 April 1923, Page 8

FIRE ON STEAMER KAIKOURA

LARGE QUANTITY OF CARGO DAMAGED NO INDICATION OF INJURY TO HULL BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland. April 10. When the cargo steamer Kaikoura, on which an outbreak of fire had been located, berthed at 11.30 last night the firemen ran a hose aboard, and the tarpaulins were lifted from the hatch. There was no outburst of flames, as the topmost bales of wool had been saturated with water. It was obvious that tho seat of the fire was at the bottom of No. 4 hold. The removal of cargo began soon alter midnight. At 1 o’clock the fire appeared to be extinguished, and the firo brigade returned to tho station. The discharge of cargo continued all night without anv recurrence of fire.

The hold where the fire occurred was full to the hatches. It contained 5000 bales of wool, 190 casks of tallow. Ninety casks of ths tallow wore loaded at Auckland on tho previous visit. The remainder of the cargo in the hold was loaded at Timaru and Dunedin. It will not be known what damage has been done to the cargo or tho hull until all No. 4 hatch is discharged. It will certainly mean considerable delay to the vessel Before she can resume her voyage. The cargo which has been discharged is in much better condition than was expected. There is no indication of damage to the hull. The fire extended to the top of the hatch, and consequently a large quantity of cargo wall be damaged The dry wool is being stacked in wharf sheds for examination, and the wet wool is being sent to fellmongeries for reconditioning. It is expected that the work of discharge W’’l be completed about tho end of the week. Kaikoura is going to Opua early next week to load frozen meat, afterwards returning here to complete her cargo. The shed abreast of where the Kaikoura. berthed at the Queen’s Wharf was cleared earlier in the evening to receive the cargo. Two gangs of waterside workers were ready to discharge it. The Harbour Board’s firefloat was in attendance with loads of hosgs to flood out the hold if necessary. She lay alongside the Kaikoura, as soon as the liner berthed. On the wharf were two engines from tho city firo station in readiness for service. Shore engineers were in attendance to cut holes in tho steamer’s sides if flooding the hold was found necessary.

How Jong tbfi firo had been smouldering is not known, ft was discovered alien the engineer on watch had occasion to go into the tunnel. nt the bottom of the vessel through which the propejler shaft passes. Underneath and near No. 4 hatch hs- noticed the paint on tbs ironwofir blistering with heat. Shortly after ho reported the matter, smoke was issuing ‘Tom the hold through the ventilators on deck. The ship’s fire appliances were soon at work pinnping wate into the hold through three leads of hose. In addition a Clayton fire extinguisher was pumping sulphur .fumes into the hold to smother tho fire. After about twclvg hours’ work the firo was got under control, but to prevent any draught fanning the fire into flames, the hatch was kept battened down, and the ventilators covered. At frequent intervals 'the temperature of the hold ivas tested, and there was ver-

change until the Kaikoura arrived in Rangitoto Channel when large volumes of smoko issuing from the hatch showed that the fire was still alight.