Rimutaka Afire In Pacific

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1939, Page 5

Rimutaka Afire In Pacific

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”]

AUCKLAND, This Day,

Three days away from Auckland, whence she is bound with nearly 300 passengers and a full cargo, the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner, Rimutaka, reported by radio yesterday an outbreak of fire in one of her holds.

The fire has been brought under control, according to a Press Association cable from London, which added that the Rimutaka was steaming towards the U.S. vessel, Yomachichi, 300 miles away.

Radio advice confirming the fact of the outbreak has been received by the company’s offices in New Zealand, and they have also been informed that the Yomachichi is standing by until the fire is brought completely under control. The liner’s arrival time, earlier fixed at noon on Thursday, is now uncertain.

The Rimutaka is believed to have been in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1000 miles east-north-east of Auckland, at the time the outbreak was discovered. It is assumed that passengers and crew are unharmed. Outbreak in Hol'd. The fire, was centred in the hold known as No. 3 Shelter Deck, which means that its seat was apparently, just ■under the hatches, immediately forward of the bridge. This fact is considered reassuring,, since it is said that if the fire had been deeper in the hold, the danger of it spreading would have been greater and the task of extinguishing it far more difficult.

The Rimutaka, a steamer of 16,660 tons, is making her first voyage to New Zealand, and her first under the flag of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Until, recently she was the P. & O. ship Mongolia. The large cargo which she is carrying is for discharge at Auckland, Wellington, and Napier. Whangarei Visitors. It is understood that the passengers include visitors to Whangarei, these being relatives of Mrs and the late Mr James Jackson, of Walton Street.