THE FIRE ON THE S.S. WAIMATE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12219, 6 December 1901, Page 5

THE FIRE ON THE S.S. WAIMATE.

Til!'! STEAM lift EXPF.OTBf) TO BE urn.; safe, (PER United TIIKSS AssncwnoN.l NAPTF.R, Dccenibfr 5, Tlic firs elt tire Waimate, which it Was thmigltf hail lietm S'iK'cesdiijly coped with on Wednesday night, bin'st out again at 3.30 p'eloek this morning amongst .the flax jn No. 4 hold. The wuvk of driving in sl'jam, which lad been going qii all night, was then stopped. "ijit Napier anil Spit hire Brigades, with tengines, set to work again to pump water into. the hold. The seal of the finr was located, .and tire stream of water directed to where tho fire was burning, Gradually tin; increasing volume «f water had its ofi'eit, but il was adyi-ablo, it) n.ake matters fully fcture, to send for tho Hastings Fire Brigade's engine, which is a vqry powerful one; am! when it arrived the* three engines wore pumping water into the hold at the rate of 84,000 gallons p>r hour-. By 5 p.m. the; Water had reached the level of (lift bi<twccn-dccks. and the Spit Fir? Brigade, who had Siee.it working alternate spells of one hour since 2 a.m. yesterday—;< continuous run of 27 hsurs of the niost arduous labour, with practically no sleep und only smitchiß of food—we: c allowed to touts ashore, a lid they were -thoroughly done' up when thi>y landed, The Wcirk done by the •Spit Brigade, as well its by the oHieers alul crew of the Vowl, pr;letif;tl'.y saved the steamer, for they kept. steadily 'at what appeared ;U. times a hopete task. 'file representative of the rudefwriters' Association, who caine otF at 5 o'clock, fipined that ni ■') lev; hours the fi.ro would Ire completely subdued, and latest advices reeoived at 10.35 p.m. ate to the effect tliaL if is espccted the steamer will be quit!' safe by midnight. As soon a? the fire is cainplete'y sup- ; pressed [lie damaged cargo will be removed, awl the steanvr wilt then "jo to Aiu'kH'i for repairs. It is no(: thought tliat ii will 111! necessary to tmjeT: arts' of the cargo but that stowed in Xa?. 4 and 5 holds.