ON BURNING SHIP

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1945, Page 4

ON BURNING SHIP

Thoroughbred Horses EX-COASTER’S DIFFICULT CHARGE P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 14 A valuable shipment of thoroughbred horses was aboard the Union Company’s steamer which had to put back to. Lyttelton on Tuesday with her cargo of hay on fire, after being some twenty mile out. These were horses recently purchased in New Zealand by Australian buyers and they were being shipped to their destinations. The consignment comprised the stallion, Blue Horizon, purchased at Trentham sales for a New South Wales stud; a three year old by Foxbridge from Lady Whirlwind, leased by Mr. J. T. Jamieson to Mr. G. A. Allen, of Sydney; a two year old colt by Burland Star, consigned to Mr. M. McCarten; a yearling filly by Nizami, and a colt by Nizami .purchased at Trentham by Mr. V. P. Burnard, a former resident of the West Coast, but now of Sydney; a two year old by Nightmarch from Strathalbyn, purchased by Mr. Burnard at last year’s sales, and left in the North Island; a two year old filly, Racilla owned by Mr. F. W. Hughes of Sydney, and a yearling brother to Lord Coronach, consigned to a Sydney trainer, B. Payten. Tlie consignment was in charge of Mr. Burnard, who was one of the few passengers on the steamer. When the steamer was 20 miles out, Mr. Burnard was called by one of the firemen, who reported that a fire had broken out in the hold immediately below where the horses were stalled on the poop deck. It was found necessary to move all ot the horses to the main deck; and with very little assistance, Mr. Burnard had the unenviable task. There was torrential rain falling at the time, and with a slippery steel surface much difficulty was experienced in moving and tethering the horses in a safe place. Fortunately, the work was completed without serious injury to any of the horses, but Mr. Burnard had an anxious time looking after their safety on the return journey, which in Mr. Burnard s opinion, seemed to be the longest 20 i miles he had ever covered. He said it was lucky that the fire broke out so early on the trip, as otherwise the steel deck would have become too hot for the horses to remain on deck, and their destruction would have been the only means of allaying their suffering. As it was the position had become very serious when the steamer berthed, as there was very little room on the deck and no means of moving the horses to any other part of the ship. All of the horses were quickly disembarked on arrival at the whaf, and were later entrained for Addington, where they are now stabled near the sale yards. They are being well cared for and given exercise and Mr. Burnard hopes to put them back on the steamer whenever it is decided that she is in order to resume the journey.

FIRE STILL BURNING CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 14. The fire which occurred in a cargo of hay in an inter-Colonial steamer on Monday night, causing the vessel to put back to Lyttelton, is still smouldering, and minor outbreaks occur intermittently. Early this morning it was thought that the fire had been extinguished and during the day a start was made in discharging hay from the forward part of the hold. At 5.30 this evening fire broke out again near the seat •of the original outbreak, and the brigade was called back to the ship. The outbreak was checked after one hour’s pumping, but firemen will remain on duty all night to deal with any further outbreak. All the hay in the hatch is to be discharged.