FIRE ON WINGATUI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22999, 30 September 1936, Page 10

FIRE ON WINGATUI

VESSEL PUTS INTO NAPIER EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN OUTBREAK OF SMOULDERING NATURE (Per United Press Association) NAPIER, Sept. 29. An outbreak of fire either in portion of her cargo of lime in No. 3 hold or in the coal in her bunkers caused the Union Steam Ship Company’s 2378-ton freighter Wingatui, en route from Dunedin to Auckland, to put into Napier, where she arrived about 8 o’clock this evening. Because the tide was at its ebb, she was unable to berth at the breakwater. but she is to do so at about 1 o’clock to-morrow morning, when an immediate start will be made to unload portion of her cargo, so that the origin of the outbreak, which is of a smouldering nature, might be investigated immediately on the vessel’s arrival off the breakwater.

To-night the harbour officials and the manager of the Napier branch of the company, Mr H V. Bell, went out to the ship in a launch, and on their return it was learned that the origin of the trouble had not been definitely located. It seemed that it had occurred either in the No. 3 hold, where slaked lime was stored, or in one of the coal bunkers, but definite investigations could not be carried out until the vessel was berthed and portion of her cargo unloaded. This will be commenced at 10 o’clock to-morrow morning, and in the meantime the Napier Fire Brigade is in readiness to give assistance should its services be required. If necessary, the engine will be loaded on to a lighter, and from there pump water into the Wingatui. When the vessel arrived off the breakwater there was no sign of smoke or flames to be seen, which was probably somewhat of a disappointment to some 400 interested onlookers to the proceedings. A WELL-KNOWN TRADER The Wingatui is well-known throughout the Dominion in the Union Company’s east coast trade betweep Dunedin and Auckland. The vessel was originally named the Antwerpen, but was later known as the Kairanga, her present name being given about 15 years ago. The Wingatui was built in 1914 at Lubeck, Germany. Her gross tonnage is 2378 and her net tonnage 1344. She is 312 feet in length, 42 feet 6 inches in beam, and 18.1 feet in depth.