FIRE ON S.S. KAIKOURA

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11934, 15 September 1924, Page 7

FIRE ON S.S. KAIKOURA

OUTBREAK M AFllffi MID ff HDIRii STEAM COPRA, KAURI GUM, AND ftM AiIGHT CTTY FIRE BRIG A RE’S PRDMPf ARRIVAL FIRE SUPPRESSED AFTER PLUCKY FICHT CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE CAUSED Considerable excitement was caused on the waterfront about midnight on ; Saturday, when it was discovered that a fire tva's ragitlg' in the after-hold of the Federal' steamer Kaikoura (83171 tons, Captain Bone)y which; vessel arrived from Liverpool, via Panama and Auckland, last Saturday, and was berthed at King’s wharf. . After the alarm was given the ship’s fire-extinguishing appliances were put into use immediately, officers and men working with determination, but it was soon recognised that ffioid extensive' rtieasures were necessary to cope with' the fire,- which' appeared to be spreading. The alarm was quickly sent to the City Fire Brigade, and that useful body of men responded with their usual prompitude,' Superintendent Tart supervising the operations-. Leads were quickly run out, and a large volume of water directed on to the burning cargo, Which was comprised of copra, kauri gum, and flax. The gum was most lmflammable, and gave off a black acrid smoke! seriously incommoding the firemen, making their work- much- more difficult, and rendering it necessary for the'® to' d<sfi -smoke helmets. The officers, crew, and fire brigade worked' well, and with the assistance of the tug Terawhiti, the fire was subdued after some hours of strenuous fighting. The extent Of the damage could not be a'cctisately ascertained yesterday, but it is believed to be extensive. The heat was so intense that it caused the deck to buckle, some of the b-a-rds being eVarred, While the wirelessoperating room, was also badly damaged, and the apparatus practically ruined.

Tiiere tfas considerable excitement abord the Federal steamer Kaikoura, which is lying at King’s Whftrf, about midnight on Saturday, When a fire was discovered in the cargo between decks ir. No. 4 hold. The fire wqs discovered between 1-1.30 p.iri. and quarter fo 13, and Was found to have secured a good hold, and at 11.47 p.m. the city fire brigade Wan telephoned for. The brigade ftp sponded smartly, sending 16 men in charge of Superintendent Tate. Cense smoke ; noxious fumes. Owing to the enclosed quarfeirs, fires bn ships are always exceedingly difficult to handle, and this one .was particularly so. on account of the dense' smoke Sfid Urines emitted from the burning cArgd, Which comprised copra and kauri guru m bags, and a quantity of timbef. The brigade quickly got to work with three jets of Water from the' ship’s equipment and two from the mains along the Wharf- So thick wasr the smoke that the firemen had to put on their smoke helmets, and .it required a good four hours’ Work Before the Ere was overcome. A considerable quantity of the copra and kauri gum was destroyed, as Welt as some of the timber, and 4 cargo of flax nearby was damaged by water. WIRELESS APPifiATOS DAMAGED So terrific was the beat that the wireless apparatus on the deck over the hold was much damaged, as well as the t arpenter’s and boatswain’s . quarters; while the tar between the boards of the deck floor boiled out, and frhe floor iraS well charred underneath. Between the heat and the water; the deck' was a good deal warped. The Tug Terawhiti Was also, promptly i« attendance, and Her drew rendered valuable assistance in getting the fire under control. - The damaged cargo was subsequently removed by lie harbour board staff; ■When approached as to the eahse of the fire Captain Bone, who is in com* fisahd of the teasel, declined to make any statement beyond saying that little damage had been dpne;. 'Hie Kaikoura left. Liverpool dh July 6th for- lilfefland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin, .and intended to finish discharging her Home mtfgo iii Melbohrfle; ,SH6 arrived m Auckland on August 2xth, .and, after discharging cargo frbni Eftgiahd aftd Neifr York, loaded copra, kSiifi giltfa. timber, and flax for Home. She. arrived iB Welling; ton on September 6th, sirtM when she hds been discharging ahd feloadiflg, and was due ,to leave ..Wellington to* dafr for Lytteltdit and Dufa&Uii. y

LARGE GENERAL CARGO ANXIOUS TIME ON BOARS. : EIRE HAS' GOOD HOLD WHEN DISCOVERED. Epe Kaikoura carried about 10,000 tons of general cargo, loaded at Glasgow, Liverpool, and Manchester. She : left Liverpool on July sth, and arrived at Auckland on August 27th, coining on to Wellington on September 6th. The fire broke out in the after field, Sted Was discovered by one of the seamen Shortly Before midnight, when it was seen to have ft good hold. No explanation is forthcoming as to the danse of the fire, which So far remains a mystery.. THE CARGO DAMME TO COPRA. VESSEL’S DEPARTURE DELAYED. The ship’s officers, when questioned yesterday, were unwilling .to daseleeet the extent of the damage done to the cargo.' There was a quantity Of Copra in the hold loaded for London, and the damage to this, both from the fire itself, and from the smoke and Water, Is believed to be considerable. The vessel Was to sail for Lyttelton to-day, but her departure Will probably be delayed as & result Of the inishap. All on board had ftlt extremely arutipus time until it Waft definitely' established that all danger WSs passed, the officers haying been OH watch ftif w ho ufs continuously. THE KAIKOURA A WELL-KNOWN VESSEL. The Kaikoura ls a weH-knOWM. vessel in New Zealand ports, having been trading between Great Britain and this country for twenty-WO years She is Owned by the New Zealand ©hipping Company and sails under the federal Compahy’s Uag, and waft bnrit by John Brown and Co, at Clydebank, ;h 19t®= She is a twin-screw steel ship, of 804? tons gross, and fitted with, refrigerating machinery. Captain TOWMtOIi is in command.