STILL ANOTHER STEAMER FIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 112, 8 November 1906, Page 8

STILL ANOTHER STEAMER FIRE.

THE S.S. WHAKATANE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 28th September. During the last few months there has been quite an epidemic of fire on board New Zealand liners, alike at sea and in dock, attacking with impartiality steamers of both the big shipping companies trading between New Zealand and England. The latest outbreak occurred only this week, on board the s-s. Whakatane, of the New Zealand Shipping Company, which is lying in the West India Dry Dock at Poplar, and the fire was discovered at 7.30 p.m., when desse volume** of smoke were seen rolling out of the lower forehold, and the discovery was mado that the charcoal installation with which the vessel is fitted for refrigerating purposes had becomo alight. This was the second occurrence of fire on board the Whakatane during a period of about ten days. The earliest arrivals among the firemen were baffled by the suffocating smoke which rolled continuously out of the interior of the vessel; some of the firemen put on smoke helmets and descended into the hold, but the fire increased in fieroenshß, and they were obliged to retreat. In a very short space of time, no fewer than eleven «tean»ers were at work, together with the river-floats Alpha, from Blackfriars, and Beta, from the- London Docks, as well as the new motor steamer from the Southwark headquarters, in addition to over seventy firemen. At 8 p.m., half an hour after the discovery of the outbreak, the forehold wa& blazing from end to end, although powerful land steamers weio throwing thousands of gallons of water into the middle of the flames, which for a whilo threatened to spread to other parts of the big ship. Owing, however, to the prompt measure's taken to prevent th« fire from spreading, the injury was confined principally to the fore-part, but not belore serious damage was done by fire, heat, and cutting away, did the efforts of the firemen meet with eucoass. Some hours elapsed before the outbreak was finally controlled. It is believed in some quarters that this second fire was caused by a red-hot rivet falling on to the charcoal surrounding the refrigerating chambers. It will b© recollected that the Whakitane previously suffered damage from fire on the 12th ic&t., on that occasion to her starboard side. It is understood that at the time of the latest outbreak, the Whakatane was insured under the inward voyag© policy (and thirty days after) at a value of £68,000. isinoe thon a new voyage policy has come into force. I am officially informed this afternoon that the necessary repairs to the damaged steamer will be all completed in time for her to resume her running at the advertised date.

Two extradition cases were heard before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., in tho Magistrate's Court to-day. The first ono concerned Arthur Oakey (Mr. Cook), who was charged with having on 30th April, 1906, stolen £13, tho property of the Shire Council of Omeo, in Victoria. Detective Williams stated that he arrested accused, and that accused baid to him, " I am glad it i& over, in a way. I have been in dreadful suspense." He also mentioned that the defalcations involved a sum of about £44. Tho second case concerned Henry Phillips, alias Henry Hughes, who was charged, on. three informations, with having embezzled the funds of an Independent Order of Oddfellows in Melbourne, to the extent of £44 6s 3d. Detective Connolly deposed that he arrested accused, who said he wati the man wanted, admitting that he had embezzled between £40 and £50 of the funds of a lodge of which he was secretary. Both accused were handed over to Constable Lloyd to bo returned to Melbourne. On tho front pago of this isiuo i« published the rtuuft of tho Univewal Cold Cure prize competition for £5 5s for Octo•ber.