PREVENTION OF FIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1908, Page 6

PREVENTION OF FIRE.

Commenting: upon the recent fire on tho; Turakina, the Shipping Gazette says that it emphasises the need for whnt i 3 known as m ehanglugr-houee for wharf workers. They should, it is asserted, be compelled to work in clothes provided for the purpose, without pookets, so that there would 1 ho no ohsnoe of matches being taken into the holds. Since flax hales have been fastened' with wire there have been moro fires among that class of cargo than when tho hnles were tied with their own fibre. Matches might get in- between the wires, end the movement of tho ship and working of the cargo would set up sufficient friction to ignite a wax match. THE DORSET IN COMMISSION. The Invercargill Shipping Company's recently acquired t.s.s. Dorset nee undergone extensive repairs and overhaul since she arrived at Dunedin, and her general appearance (reports the Otflgo Daily Times)' hns been much improved thereby. "Her large deckhouse has been reduced by 18ft .aft, and the «pace has been utilised by the construction Of a natch aft, measuring 6ft by 10ft. Her bulwarks have been raised all round, and Other extensive repairs imd lmpr(Svefl>*nta hare been effeoted on board, all of which have hed the efieot Of putting tho Doreet in fine- trim for the work she is to be crtgnged In. Captain. Hanningr has been placed in command of the vessel, which «ail& to-day for Rirerton. Tho Dorset will viaib Riverton every two we«ks, and in addition will make weekly trips to Invercarg-ill, calling at Waikawa as required. THE APARIMA. The Union Company's- steamer Aparima. left Vancouver last month for the United/ Kingdpm • or Continent with ? cargo of wheat. Captain 'Robertson, of the Rotoiti, has transferred to the Penguin while hie vessel i« undergoing repairs. Captain Hunter, of the Penguin, haa been granted holiday leave. Tile Union Company's lately purchased steam,, er Kaitangata,' which leaves West of England porta early in February fnr Fremantle, has been chartered to load hardvood at We«t Australian ports for New Zealand. The Union Company's steamer Rakanoa, which has resumed commission, and is now en route to Newcastle from Port Ohalnierer, Is still in command of Cpptain Carson, his ofllcerr beingMr. F. W. Barron, chief; Mr. J. D, Richards, , second; Mr. A. E., Reed/ third ; Mr. O. Faikenberg, chief engineer ; and Mr. , H. White, chief steward. Captain Read and Mrs. Read are among ilia through passengers hy the Manuka, bound for Auckland and the Hot Lakes district, where the happy' couple will epend, their honeymoon, i , At present there are threo trailing barques in. Australian ports. 'At Sydney is the Port Jackson, from London, which, after discharging inward freight, is to load Wool," while' the Herzogin S-iphie Charlie i« at Wallaroo. Tho other vessel i* the Herzogin Ceollle, which arrived at Adelaide on the 9th January, from Brcmerhave'n, and, like the other German fourmaster, is loading wheat for the United Kingdom or Continent. A schist-rock obstruction extending midway along Bluff Whdrf, art, estimated distance of 70ffc and, cay, 80ft channelwards, is now being operated upon under the supervision of Mr. Will'ftm Pacey, an expert in explosives from Auckland. The depth ,of water on the rock at present is 23ft, whioh will beincreased to 30ft by its removal. The constiuction of the dock ct Port Ohnlmera has reached a stage from which its completion appears to be within measurable distance. It is firmly believed that the new doc'; will be an accomplished fact about tho middle of the present year.