FIRE ON LINER.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1924, Page 5

FIRE ON LINER.

MUCH DAMAGE EXPECTED. FIREMEN’S DANGEROUS TASK. - THICK FUMES IN HOLD, x By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Wellington, Sept. 15. The firemen who descended into the hold to tackle the flames had a most dangerous task. The fumes were so thick and overpowering that smoke helmets were needed, though some of the crew went into the hold with only wet handkerchiefs coveting their faces. Oily copra made good fuel and some other cargo in the vicinity—kauri gum, some kauri planks and sacks holding sand—also caught alight.

The fire which was discovered just after 11.30 o’clock on Saturday night, was not got completely under control until 3.50 o’clock on Sunday morning. Great ptaise is due to all the fire-fighters for the manner in which the flames were prevented from spreading to the other holds. In the after part of No. 4 hold there is stowed a considerable quantity of oils and paints and had these ignited the fire would probably have been disastrous. In the forward part of No. 5 there is a large quantity of flax, but the flames were prevented from reaching it; the flax was damaged by water however. It was impossible to estimate the damage yesterday, but the loss must be heavy, apart from the damage to cargo. Structural repairs will have to be made to the ship. New decking will be required and possibly new plates on the starboard side. A new wireless installation, also, will probably have to be obtained, though an emergency set was workable yesterday. Gangs of men worked yesterday removing the damaged cargo to the harbour board sheds. All of it was ’loaded at Auckland. The cause of the fire is unknown, though the general opinion ascribes it to spontaneous combustion among the copra. The Kaikoura is a vessel of 8371 tons, owned by the New Zealand Shipping Co., but is running under charter to the Federal Co. The shipping company’s superintendent does not expect the vessel, which was to have sailed to-day for Lyttelton, will be long delayed here, but she must remain until Lloyd’s surveyor reaches a decision.