FIRE ON WINGATUI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22538, 1 October 1936, Page 12

FIRE ON WINGATUI

OUTBREAK SUPPRESSED ORIGIN IN LIME CARGO LITTLE DAMAGE CAUSED VESSEL SAILS FOR AUCKLAND [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] NAPIER, Wednesday The smouldering fire which broke out in the Union Steam Ship Company's cargo steamer Wingatui while en route from Dunedin to Auckland was discovered this morning to have had its origin in a cargo of lime in No. 3 hold. The trouble was remedied today, and the vessel sailed this afternoon in continuation of her voyage to Auckland. When the hatch of No. 3 hold was raised, a small- cloud of what appeared to be smoke rose from below, and all night and this morning the smoke or fumes continued to rise, so that the men had to wear a cloth over their nostrils and mouths for greater ease in working.below. A portion of the general cargo wast first raised on to the wharf, and then appeared bags of smouldering lime, which were cut open and left in a pile beside the hatch. Debria Thrown Overboard

Charred beams and scorched straw also were hauled up from the hold and were thrown overboard, 60 that in a short time the surface of the harbour on the eastern side' of Glasgow Wharf was littered with burnt debris. When sufficient space had been cleared several iron wheelbarrows used in the construction work sit the breakwater were hoisted over the side of the ship and sent below to facilitate the clearing of the space below decks. "There's nothing much to say," said Captain T. W. Evans, when questioned. "We didn't know anything until we got here." When asked for a statement regarding the damage done by the fire, an official of the Union Company said: — "The damage is very small, and was confined to a few jpackages of general cargo and a small quantity of lime. There was no reason to use a hose, as chemical extinguishers were sufficient. All the cargo will go on in the ship to Auckland. There was no structural damage." Spray Possible Cause It is thought possible that the fire was caused by spray getting down the ventilators and causing the lime stowed in the forward tweendeck of No. 3 hold to become overheated and commence to smoulder. Everything possible was done on the passage to Napier to seal the hold from the outer air with the object of smothering the fire, or at least preventing it from spreading. The opinion was expressed by one shipping man that the Wingatui had experienced a close call. The outbreak had commenced to burn through the wooden bulkhead separating the No. 3 hold from the coal bunker, and had the fire gained a hold in the coal the position would have been serious.