The Manapouri on Fire.

Manawatu Standard, Issue 7403, 19 September 1902, Page 4

The Manapouri on Fire.

(Press Association.— Copyright.) .. grnsnT, September 18. Tho Manaponti is on fire, and serious results are feared. Sue arrived from Fiji to-day and is transhipping cargo at Wooloomooloo Bay. . The firo started tn-night. Received Septeuibi-r 19. 1 9 a.tn.

The Manapouri brought a lurg« cargo of island produce, inoluding 11,800 bagß Mier'iiischarginfi tho produce, a good jition nt the Margnret-street wharf, jho proceed-d to Wooloomooloo Bay to tranship the remainder of the copra, supposed about 3.00 tons, to the Gorman steamer Darmstadt, on ths outside of which abo was moored. f , ; - Difcharging with tho assistance of tho electric Jight proceeded till 7.80 ', when iho men working m No 2 hold noticed the flames ou top of some bags of copra being aent up. The alarm was given, and an attempt mudo to extinguish tho flumes, but, they spread with great rapidity. The firo brigades wciv quickly Oil tne jseone, but whun they a> rived the flames were leaping up tbo gangway. Carrying tho hose acroaa tho Darmstadt, four engines began pou-ing in water, and succeeded in driving the fro below, and it is now confined to tho fore and main holds, where tho bulk of tho copra is stored. Denso volumes of smoke are pouring out of tho hatcht-s, and prevent the attempts to grt at the seat of tho fire. At o late hour four steamers aro still at work. The Manapouri has a very heavy list to port, and despite the largo quantity of water aboard, it is apparent tho fire has a good hold. The smoke if unabated, but no fire is visible. The Harbour Trust* steam tug ib Stan-ling by in readiness to tow the steamer into harbour if necessary. The list U so heavy there is some fear she may cap^ise. No explanation is given as to the cause of the outbreak,