IONIC FIRE INQUIRY.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12259, 3 June 1908, Page 4

lONIC FIRE INQUIRY.

Wellington. June, % Giving evidenca before the Commission appointed to inquiro into the fire which recently occurred oa the steamer lonic, Captain Monro, wharfinger, said that the features of the Turakina and lonic fires were identical, but he wou'M not say they were attributable to spontaneous combustion. He thought that, the lonic fire was caused by a bale or bales of flax coming in contact witn fire, but how he did not know. He added that the greatest difficulty was experienced in keeping the public, who were smoking, away from the tow arid flax which were being loaded. He had never seen matches in a ship's hold. It was possible, of course, that they might get there.