FIRE ON RAKANOA

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 12

FIRE ON RAKANOA

ANOTHER OUTBREAK

The outbreak of fire amongst the coal on tho storo ship Eakanoa on Wednesday laet was extinguished, but owing to the coal being wet its temperature continued to rise, and although double watch was kept, a further outbreak was discovered on Sunday morning. Tho ship's hose held the fire in check until •1 o'clock yesterday morning, when the watchman discovered tho coal blazing iv No. 3 hold. Rockets were fired, and tho Terawhiti was dispatched to tow tho ship to the wharf, and she berthed at the Ferry Wharf at about 11 a.m. yesterday. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon tho hatches were removed, and a commencement was ma'do to discharge the coal into tho Koromiko, which is berthed at the Eailway Wharf. Discharging was continued till 10 p.m., and was resumed this morning. During tho night hoses were kept playing on tho outbreak, and this morning dense clouds of smoke and steam continued to issue from the ship. It is estimated that about 1000 tons of heated coal will have to be unloaded. When tho hojd is cleared of tho wet coal the Kakunoa :s to be used again as a coal store ship.