FIRE ON A STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16670, 15 October 1917, Page 6

FIRE ON A STEAMER.

OUTBREAK AT MELBOURNE. PARCEL MAILS DESTROYED. Serious damage was caused by fire in a steamer of 6750 tons lying at Victoria Dock, Melbourne. The Age states that it was the fourth mysterious outbreak of fire aboard a British merchant ship in Australian waters within a week. The steamer was to have sailed from *Mel ; bourne on the following day. The fire broke out in No. 1 hold, and must have been burning for two hours before it was discovered. The heat was intense, and thick volumes of brown smoke poured from the hold. Smoke helmets were donned by the firemen, who descended into the hold. They found mail bags crammed with parcels and a quantity of bedding a roaring mass of flames. After a fight of seven hours the fire was got under control. Next day showed that the apartments were gutted, but the vessel was perfectly seaworthy. The tire commenced among some bedding, stores and mail matter in the fore-peak, under the forecastle. Considering the circumstances, the vessel escaped with comparatively little damage. A quantity of bedding and mail matter was destroyed. The latter included for the most part curios collected by Australian soldiers in Egypt and Mesopotamia, which had been forwarded to relatives and friends, and were chiefly consigned to the eastern States. The postul authorities advised that no letter mails had been destroyed. The parcel mails included six bags from troops in Egypt and three from Colombo for New Zealand. The whole of the parcels have been burnt excepting those containing metal. These have been damaged by fa% and aro practically useless. The Sydney Sun estimates, the loss of vessels and damage by fire among Australian shipping at £3,000,000, including the vessel damaged at Melbourne. It gives the following list: — The Waitotara, of the Union Company's cargo fleet, was destroyed by fire at sea on June 20. The Cumberland was damaged by explosion and beached, but afterwards foundered on her way to Sydney. The Port Kembla was sunk by internal explosion on the New Zealand coast. The Matunga was lost in Northern Australian waters. # The Morinda arrived in Sydney on fire. A steamship was on fire at Dalgety's Wharf, Millers Point, Sydney. The Union Company's Wairuna disappeared without a trace. Details of the cargo loaded by the Port Kembla at Melbourne are given by the Sydney Sun as follows:—l 74 packages of Red Cross goods, 3967 bales of wool, 1240; bales of sheepskins, 1990 packages tallow,' 500 packages of oleine, 20,211 cases of jama, 400 cases of milk. 708 cases of sauce, 86 cases of kidneys, 1619 lamb carcases, Mo bags of beef, 1240 packages of casings, 63 quarters of beef, 140 cases boned beef, 2 cases books, 325 packages of comforts, 50,858 crates of rabbits. At Brifbane the same class of goods was shipped.

V APPEALS AT TE AWAMUTU. ■ ■ ♦ SEVERAL GOOD FAMILY RECORDS. [by telegeaph.—own correspondent.] TE AWAMUTU, Saturday. The Second Auckland Military Service Board held a sitting at Te Awamutu this week. The appeal of V. Fitzpatrick, storekeeper, Kihikihi, classed as 01, was adjourned pending medical re-examination. The appeal of H. J. Gaskill, of Ngahinapouri, was reviewed and sine die exemption continued because of the family 8 record. The case of T. Penniket, farmer, Ohaupo, was adjourned for two months, in accordance with the wishes o:i the Medical Board. H. T. Corcoran, farmer, Harapepe, j was allowed until January 10, on account I of the shearing season. I J. R. Kay, farmer, Korakonui, said he I had a farm of 1500 acres and controlled soldiers' farms aggregating 2540 acres. Ho undertook to go when a brother returned to relieve him. He was granted sine die exemption. W. Matheson, fanner, Te Mawhai, who showed that he was the only remaining member of the family, had sine die exemption continued. A. G. Maunder, Kihikihi, also the only remaining member of the family to carry on a dairy farm, had his appeal granted. The case of T. E. Konealy, farmer, Ohaupo, - was reconsidered, and sine die exemption continued. W. G. Tyrrell, farmer, Kiokio, asked for time to do cropping, and was allowed -to December 15. P. H. Bloxham, farrier, Kihikihi, being essential to the business, had his appeal allowed. D. W. Budge, farmer, Kiokio, the only remaining son to help on a dairy farm, had his appeal allowed. Tho appeal of J. Riddell, fanner, Matapara, was upheld because of the family record and his responsibilities. The case of J. Mcintosh, farmer, Pukeatua. was adjourned for further inquiries. H. Forkert, farmer, Ohaupo, was recommended to arrange with his brother on a neighbouring farm to carry on his work in his absence. The case was adjourned for further inquiries. D. A. Donald, farmer, Pukcatua, was granted exemption sine die. Andrew Kail, farmer, Ohaupo, asked for leave until February for two sons, so ng to see him through' the busy season. He did not ask for exemption" for one boy, because he desired them to go toeether. The board considered that both sons should not be taken, as it would leave the burden of a productive farm on the aped father, but the old man declined to not f/M> (tin nvnn ,«i,'« n „f . TT. •!

" ask tor the exemption of one. He said he would struggle along the best way he could when the'busy season was over. The case was adioumed till next sitting d to establish whether there would be any i. detriment to production by leaving the i-1 father unaided. a George Ball, farmer, Te Rore. was allowed till December 13. A. F. Bond, d farmer, Te Awamutu, the only remaining ;t sonnm a dairy farm, was granted sine die 0 exemption,