THE lONIC FIRE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 23 May 1908, Page 7

THE lONIC FIRE.

ENQUIRY BEGINS. ' [PRfiSS ASSOCIATiOK.I May 23. 'Hoe enquiry into the recent fire on the' lonic commenced to-day. Captain Caitfer, in hie evidence, said , the steamer was riot materially damaged, ;not so as to -affect a her seagoing qualities. In reply to a question as to whether^ he had formed any opinion as to the origin of the fiwv*witmesa said that eliminating the •theory-'t»'4o spontaneous combustion he cduld only suggest, as there were two , or three hajos of, flax with steel bands *pund them, that" some of theße bands -might have, burpt and thrown a spark upon some particularly favorable t portion •of the flax. He added that it was quite possible wax matches were introduced into the ship's hold. The men were 1 not searched, but smoking did not go on in lie holds.