VESSEL ON FIRE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 September 1924, Page 9

VESSEL ON FIRE

LATEST PARTICULARS. iBY TELEGRAPH —pa ESS ASSOCIATION, j WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. The firemen who- descended the hold to tackle the flames had a., most dangerous task. The fumes were so thick and overpowering that smoke helmets were needed,’ though some of the crew went into the hold with only wet handkerchiefs covering their faces. The oily copra made good fuel, and some otn.e,e ciargO'. in. the vicinity of the kauri gum, some kauri planks, and sacks holding sand also.caught alight. The fire, winch was discovered inst after 11.30 off Saturday night, was not got completely under till 3.50 on Sunday inqrning. Great praise, is due to all the "'fire-lighters for the manner in which the flames were prevented from spreading to, other holds. In the afterpart of No. 4 hold there is stowed a considerable quantity of oils and paints, and had these ignited the fire would probably have been disastrous. In the forward part of No'. 5 there is a large quantity of flax, but the flames were •prevented from reaching it. Tie flax was damaged by water. However, it was impossible to estimate the damage yesterday, but the less will be heavy. Apart from the damage to the cargo, structural repairs will have to bo made to the ship. New decking will be required and possibly new plates on the starboard side. A new wireless installation will also probably have to, he obtained, though the emergency set was workable yesterday. Gangs of men worked yesterday removing the damaged cargo to the Harbour Board’s sheds. All of it was loaded at Auckland.

Th& cause cf the fire is unknown, though the general opinion ascribes it to spontaneous combustion among the conra. '

. The Kaikoura is of 8371 tens, and is owned by the. New Zealand Shipping Company, hut is running under charter to the Federal Compare/. The shinning company’s superintendent does nc.t expect that the vessel, which was to have sailed to-day for Lyttelton, will be long delayed" here, ’but she must remain until Lloyd’s surveyor reaches a decision.