FIRE AT KARETU

Evening Star, Issue 25679, 31 December 1945, Page 4

FIRE AT KARETU

ONLY ONE HOLD AFFECTED DAMAGE LESS THAN FEARED The resources of the City Fire Brigade were fully employed in the fire which broke out in tbe intercolonial vessel Karetu, which was berthed at the Birch street wharf on Saturday. Although at one time it was feared that all the contents of one hold might be endangered, the actual damage was small, and by this morning there- was practically no sign of the conflagration. Damage by water may be fairly heavy, but not as much as was at- first feared.

The fire brigade bad all its up-to-date equipment in. action and all danger was past within an hour. Only superficial damage was done to the woodwork of tbe hold, mainly to the hatch covers, while the cargo damage was ■ limited practically to about 40 rolls of cocoanut- matting. The Karetu, a vessel of 3,210 tons, arrived from Lyttelton with a cargo from Sydney on Saturday, December 22, but owing to a lack of labour the ship could not be worked until a week later. She is scheduled to leave for Sydney via Lyttelton, at the end of: this week, and it was reported yesterday by aii official of .the Union Company that her departure had not Rnen delayed by the fire.