A STEAMER ABLAZE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15174, 13 December 1912, Page 8

A STEAMER ABLAZE.

BIG FIRE IN HARBOUR.

HAUROTO BADLY DAMAGED

GOOD WORK BY TUG TE AWHINA.

Extensive damage was caused by fire on the steamer Ha mo to in the early hours of yesterday morning. By strenuous efforts the crew of tlio tug Te Awhina and waterfront police extinguished the fire four hours after it was first observed.

Tho fire was first noticed by Captain Lockie, and other officers of the Harbour Board's staff, and about two a.m. the clanging of a ship's bell attracted tho attention of Sergeant Ryan and Constable Honrke, who were on their beat along the waterfront. They observed the Hauroto, which was lying out in tho harbour opposite Northcote, to be on five. Hastily rousing the owner, of the launch All Black 11., who was sleeping on board his boat, the three men hurried to the burning vessel. The night watchman (John McConnell) was the only person on board the Hanroto. With his help they attacked the fire, which had broken out- in one of the cabins, with buckets of water. Their combined efforts, however, were useless, as tho flames had got a considerable hold. Returning ashoro in the launch they found that the alarm had already been given by Captain Lockie. The tug To Awhina', which is kept lying ready with banked fires, in cases of emergency, was quickly manned by Constables Baker and Joyce," who got steam up, and were later assisted by tho tug's crew, under, Captain Gardiner, together with the harbourmaster (Captain Sergeant), and Captain Lockie. Shortly after three a.m. the Te Awhina reached tho burning vessel and got her pumps in action. By this time the fire was blazing round tho officers' bridge, the flames at times shooting high above the funnel top. After some two and a-half hours' magnificent and arduous work by' those on the Te Awhina the fire was subdued, and by six a.m. all danger was past. The damago done is extensive. The bridge was completely destroyed, with, the captain's room, compass, and steeringwheel. Nearly 40ft of the lower and upper decks were burnt away. Two boats were destroyed, and all the wooden fixtures were reduced to ashes, leaving only scorched and twisted steel' and iron fittings. Fortunately the flames were got under before they reached the fore hatches, which are filled with slack coal. If this had taken firo the consequences would have been very much more eerious.

The nightwatchman of the steamer attributed tho fire to the explosion of a small lamp, which he had left burning in one of the cabins while he was fishing. The damage done is estimated at approximately £1000. Repairs have already been commenced.

The Hauroto is a steel vessel of about 2000 tons, owned by the Union Steam Ship Company. She was built in 1882 in Dumbarton for the New Zealand trade. Three weeks ago she arrived from Fiji with a cargo of fruit. Since then she has been used as a receptacle for coal from the steamer Kaitangata. It had been intended to use the Hauroto during the holiday season.