THE FIRE ON THE WARRIMOO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 28

THE FIRE ON THE WARRIMOO.

THE COURT'S FINDING. A decision as to the recent fire on the Warrimoo was given on the 6th imst. The questions asked by the Collector of Customs were : (1) What was the origin of the fire 2 (2) Did the shippers take all reasonable means before shipping the flax to ascertain whether it was in such a condition) as not to be liable to spontaneous combustion? The answers of the court .vers:—(l} There is no evidence to show the origin of the said fire.

(2) That the flax appears to have been in good condition when shipped. ' These answers axe supplemented by the following reasons: —There is no evidence to show that the flax was shipped otherwise than in good condition. On the contrary, the evidence so far as it goes is that the flax was in good condition. The Government grader's certificate was given undid: section 5 of the Produce Export Act, and the evidence of John Wylie, A. 8., who was in charge of the hold, and that of other witnesses is that the flax appeared to be dry when it was shipped, and that it was a dry night. The. court is unable to say what was the cause of the fire. According to the evidence before it, every precaution was taken against fire whil&ti loading, except that the men working the cargo took down into the hold their clothes, which veiy probably contained matches, and it is probable that these ma.sl have been dropped in the hold and been; a source of danger. The ventilators inf the hold! are properly protected, and with the above-mentioned exception every precaution was taken against fire from out? side agency. With regard to the theory, of spontaneous .combustion, the evidence rather that the bales were burnt from the outside, and not from the inside, and! there is also the evidence that the fS?ax was i:n good condition when Further, it is stated by Professor Park in his evidence, it is doubtful whether flax IS capable of spontaneous ignition, although: capable of spontaneous Jheating. Thej court strongly recommends as a safeguard] against fire that stringent precautions should be adopted against matches or other combustibles being taken into holds of vessels by men working cargo of otherwise.