ARRIVAL OF THE APARIMA

New Zealand Mail, 24 September 1902, Page 20

ARRIVAL OF THE APARIMA

THE RECENT FIRE ON THE STEAMER. Soon after 6 a.m. last Wednesday the Union Steam Ship Company’s fine new steamer Aparima arrived in the harbour from Calcutta, Singapore, Albany and Hobart, and was berthed at the Glasgow Wharf, when her hatches .were immediately lifted and the work of discharging her Wellington cargo was proceeded with. The Aparima is. fresh, from the builders’ hands, having been launched last April at the yard, .of Messrs Denny Bros., Dumbarton. She is of 5703 tons gross and 8683 tons net. and is intended for trade between New Zealand and Calcutta. Captain Courbarron, a well-known officer in the Union Company’s service, is in command, and Mr J. McDonald is the chief officer. These two officers proceeded specially from New Zealand to bring out the Aparima. The other officers of the ship are:—Second officer, Mr .T. W. Wallace ; third, Mr R. Leecli; fourth, Mr F. Jelley; purser, Mr L. D. Grigg. The engine department is. controlled by Mr J. Dove. The steamer left Scotland on the Ist May to load horses at Frame on behalf of the Imperial Government for Durban. The war was -still in progress when she started on the voyage, but on arrival at her destination peace had been declared. From Durban the vessel went to India to load general cargo for New Zealand. She called at Calcutta and Singapore, loading some 8009 tons of cargo, comprising mainly, jute, rice, tea- and spices. ■ In conversation with a "Times” reporter the officers gave a complete narrative of the recent fire on the vessel. The Aparima, they stated, left Singapore, on the Bth August for Wellington direct. All went well until Sunday. 17th August, when it was noticed that the coal in the bunkers was smouldering. There wag notliing, however, to cause uneasiness. At 11 o’clock on th© morning of the following Tuesday it was ascertained that the coal bad taken fire in the forward hunker. Water and steam weTe at once poured into the compartment, but it very soon became apparent that the bulkhead must have become sufficiently heated to fire the cargo in No. 2 hold. The hatches were promptly taken off, and -with the admission of air flames burst forth, rising above the bridge. All hands concentrated their efforts in the hpld, and it was discovered that the bulkhead was red-hot between decks, and that much cargo was alight. At 3 o’clock p.m., when the seriousness of the case became apparent, the captain decided to put back for Albany. The vessel was then some seventy miles beyond that ]tort. A night of anxiety and hard work ensued. Befor© Albany was reached the hold was again closed up,, and a six-inch steam pipe laid on to overcome the outbreak.

Upon arrival Captain Jones was appointed by Lloyd’s agent to make a survey, and Mr Carrington, resident Government -engineer at Albany, was taken off to the ship to see whether the pumping appliances of the dredge would be required. , As little trouble was threatened from the cargo it was decided first to continue with the ship’s pumps .to i?ood the bunker. Gradually the smoke diminished and matters improved, so. that the services of the dredge were not availed of. On the evening of the 20th the bunker wap still smoking, but the volume was much reduced. That the situation was not without great -danger was revealed by the fact that on the following morning three explosions took place in the bunker, the hatches on two occasions being blown, from their positions almost as high as the funnel. Some two or three days later the fire, after much laborious work, was successfully subdued, aud the steamer was able to continue her voyage to Wellington. The deck of the steamer appears to be very badly sprung in different places, and the officers' cabins are scorched. The bulkhead between holds No. 1 and 2 is not tight, and it is assumed as a matter of certainty that the cargo, in both is muc;h damaged. The quantity involved is about 4000. tons. The electric plant on: the steamer is almost completely ruined. The exact amount of damage .will not be known until after discharge. ■ •