FUEL DUMP FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24875, 22 April 1944, Page 8

FUEL DUMP FIRE

BOUGAINVILLE BLAZE NEW 2EALAN DERS' STRUGGLE (fi.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) BOUGAINVILLE, April 1 When enemy shells set a fuel dump | ablaze on Allied territory at Bougainville, fire crews of the R.N.Z.A.F. took the brunt of a grim three-liour fight 1 with the flames, ami through _ their > determined, courageous efforts in the face of great danger prevented the fire I spreading to any of the 50 near by dumps. A towering column of brilliant red ! and orange flames and dense black smoke lighting the midnight sky was > the first indication that the Japanese , had scored a lucky hit. Shells .were still crashing in the surrounding jungle ! when the New Zealand airmen, with ' six crash tenders, raced to the scene s in answer to a call ior voluntary assist- , ance. Two dumps were burning fiercely, drums exploding and rocketing high in the air, even clearing the lofty treetops. The blaze was difficult to ! approach because of the intense heat, ■ and, apart from the possible resumption [ of enemy shelling at any moment, there was a very real danger from the bursting drums. ! R.N.Z.A.F. fire-fighters, a highly- ■ trained, experienced unit, went straight < into action. They ran their machines to the very edge <>t the blazing fuel | and with calm disregard of personal ' danger fought the fire with inspiring ' coolness and tenacity. The tenders worked in relays u> refill with water from the camp or from road water ■ tanks. While the main outbreaks were , being reduced, hoses were also being played on surrounding dumps to keep them cool. The firemaster, Sergeant L. Hughes. I of Upper Jfutt, who has a record of 14 years' service fire-fighting and successes in the national brigade competitions. did a splendid job in directing the whole operations calmly and with quick judgment throughout the long, hazardous struggle. At one stage lie took no a position between the two burning dumps. Mis work undoubtedly prevented one of the fires from spreading. The blaze was brought, under control in two hours- and a-lialf, but there was still work to do in damping the heated and swollen drums and in extinguishing spayks in charred trees. One of the machines and its crew remained on duty at the spot for the rest of the night. LABOUR NOMINATION COMING ELECTIONS MR. J. SAYEGH WITHDRAWS An announcement that he would not be an official Labour candidate for any public office at next month's local body elections was made yesterday by Mr. J. Sayegh. , . At present Mr. Sayegh is an official Labour representative on the Auckland I Harbour Board, the Auckland Hospital pßoard and the Auckland Electric-Power Board. He has served on all these bodies for periods ranging from six to V2 years The only offices for which the Labour Party has sponsored him this year are membership of the City Council and the Auckland Electric-Power Board. "The decision 1 have made does not necessarily mean that 1 have finished with public life," said Mr. Sayegh, yes- ! terdav. "The public have supported me {in thousands at the polls on many occasions, and if they ask for my services I shall be* willing to give them." Beyond this he would not add to his announcement. Mr. Sayegh contested the Auckland Mayoralty for Labour at the past three elections. The official Labour candidate for the Mayoralty, it is stated, will not be known until after the meeting of the Labour Representation Council next Thursday. Discussing her position last night, Mrs. M. M. I)reaver said that she would stand as a candidate only if endorsed hv the Labour Party and also would abide by its decision as to the number of bodies on which a candidate might seek election, when that was finally announced. The final decision in that matter would be reached after Ihursday's meeting. MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH I CITIZENS' CANDIDATES A decision to nominate candidates for seats on the .Mount Ivlen Borough Council-was made by a meeting of residents which was held in support of the Mount Eden Citizens and Ratepayers' ticket. The nominations are:—.Mayor, Mr. R. J. Mills; councillors, Messrs. F. 0. Ashley. P. R. Burton, Stanley Buttle, S. E. Cliappefl, A. Clive Johns, P. Landells, C. C. Preston, Nesbit C. Sneddon and E. \Y. Turner, and Mrs. j Z. E. Williamson. Mr. Mills consented j to nomination after being approached by a deputation of residents. ' The meeting also decided to nominate the following for various boards:—Harbour Board, Mr. G. Carr; Hospital Board. Dr. .1. Aitken Paterson and Mr. A. C. Johns; Transport Board. Messrs. H. A. Anderson and W. H. Nagle. HOWICK TOWN BOARD THE CHAIRMAN'S DECISION The chairman of the Howick Town Board, Mr. C. H. Emory, has decided not to seek re-election at the coining elections owing to pressure of private business. Other members of the board who are also retiring are Messrs. J. Crawford, A. 11. Hammond and C. H. Pritchard. NEW ELECTORS COUNTY ENROLMENTS (0.G.) DAItGAVILLE, Friday Evidence of an intensive canvass in the Aratapu and Te Kopuru ridings of the Hobson County is found in the new names added to the county roll for the coming election. The county clerk, Mr, J. Hogg, estimated that between 500 and 700 have been added to the rolls in these two ridings and that the total number for the 12 ridings is in the vicinity of 1500 to 1700. In Otamatea County there has been little activity. The clerk, Mr. E. G. Aickin, stated (his morning that between 100 and 200 names have been added, although with the uncertainty of mails the figures will not be definitely known for some days. NO VELTY TOMATO ES Chinese buyers at the Wellington public markets were intrigued when a few eases of novelty tomatoes were sold by auction. These were the smallest tomatoes ever offered for sale in Allen Street, each one being no larger than a marble pear-shaped, -smoothskinued. red ripe, and deliciously flavoured. Thev were grown in the Hutt Valley, but, further than that, no one seemed to know anything about the new variety.