CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.]

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1906, Page 5

CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.]

FIRES ON DIRECT LINERS. « THE GOTHIC BADLY DAMAGED. TWO SERIOUS OUTBREAKS. [PBZSS ASSOCIATION.] LONDON, Bth June. 'On Sunday last, when the Gothic was between Teneriffe and England, on the voyago from New Zealand, a smell of fire was noticed, and the seat of the trouble was discovered next day in No. 4 hold, where it was found there was a serious fire. A quantity of the burning cargo was jettisoned, and steam injected into the hold, and the fire apparently extinguished. On Wednesday the smell of fire was renewed, and by Thursday morning the fire had made considerable headway. The passengers were advised to disembark at Plymouth. When the hatches l were lifted, a volume of dense smoke poured forth. Two Government tugs gave assistance, but efforts to extinguish the flames failing, tho Gothic was towed to Cattewatter, the seacocks opened, and the vessel beached. Last night the fire had extended to tho -saloon, where a large hole was burned in the floor. The Gothic has a, very heavy list, and there are fears that she may topple over as the tide ebbs. ALL THE CABINS DESTROYED. (Received June 9, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, Bth June. The Gothic is now on an even keel. The fire has been extinguished. All the cabins have been destroyed, aud the salo.on has been ruined. The/ Gothic is one of the best-known Home traders visiting New Zealand. Sho was generally regarded as a masterpiece of the shipwright's 'and decorator's skill, the catbins, saloon, library, and smokingroom being models of comfort nnd. art decoration. The vessel has put up some good steaming performances during the time she has been in llie New Zealand trade. On hor maiden trips her best daily iuus were 370 and 365 miles. She is a steel four-masted, steamer of 775S tons gross, and 4975 tons net, and was built in 18.93 by Messrs. Harland and Wolff. The principal dimensions of the ship are:— Length 490.7 ft, beam 73.2 ft, depth 33.5 ft. • Tho No. 4 bold contained 9 bales of wool and 634 bales of hemp ; and No. 3 hold held ,ho following! — 505 bales wool, 205 bales hemp, 3 bales leather, 1036 cases n. eats, 23 casks tallow, 3 casks pelts, 137 casks casings, and 2 cases. * < Tho following passengers booked for London by the Gothic: — From Wellington, MissGerse, Meadames Arthur, Butters, CHpperton, Delautour, Harris, Leicester, Lixford, M'Carthy, Watts, Messrs. Anderson, Butters, Delautour, Di Ritter (2), Matthews, M'Carthy, Welch, Wilson. From Auckland — Miss Aulsebrook, Mesdames Lister, Lund, Masfen. From Napier — Misse» Boyd, Tottenbam (2), Mesdarnes Ei bourne, (Tottenham, Messrs. Elbourne, C, A. Smith, Hansard (2), Tottenham, Masters* Tottenham (3). From Cbristolrurch — Misses Corfe, Melitus (2), Mills, Ntiell, Mesdame3 Harper, Melitus, Major Doyle, Mr. Milnes, Master Melitus. From Dunedin — Miss Shand. Third-class: — From Wellington— Misses Habbard, Neill, M'Laren, Rugg, Stewart, Webb, Mesdames Brennan, Butler, Cox, M'Laren, Rugg, Messrs. Adams, Alexander, Brown, Chapman, Butler, Clarke, Davis, Ericknon, Groombridge, George, Hjixley (2), Harrison, Jones, Meek, Misskelly, M'Laren, Neill, Nielson, Nicholson Pattison, Stevenson, Roberts, • Rugg, Skyrme, Sheehy, Simpson, Tattle, Thwaites, Mastera Rugg (5). The vessel is also carrying 44 third-class passengers from other ports. OUTBREAKS ON OTHER VESSELS. (Received June 9, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, Bth June. The Waimale, on which a slight fire occurred amongst the wool in the hold, h?s arrived at Plymouth. The fire was intermittent for ten days. It is believed that the fires, including that on the Perthshire, originated amongst the flax included in the cargoes. [A private cable message received in Wellington to-day states that only slight damage was done to the Waimate's cargo.]