MELTING HEAT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18479, 5 September 1925, Page 16

MELTING HEAT.

WATER IN THREE HOLDS. PUMPING OUT THE KENT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND. September 4. The Kent was moved this morning from Queen's Wharf to King's Wharf, where slie will be pumped out. Lite damaged cargo will be discharged latei. A survey will then be made. It is now plain that the fire was hottest right down in the lowest hold. Some cargo in 'tween decks is practically untouched. On the next deck lower, the lire must have been raging with almost melting heat, tor some electrical machinery was burned to a state ot ruin. The chassis of a lug tour or live-ton motor-bus looks like scrap iron. It is believed that the worst, damage will be lound lowest in the hold. Water in Three Holds. * The fire üboai.l is now tolllplofcelv out. The Kent is being discharged while the water is being pumped out. She sustained no damage to the hull. In addition to the 1000 tons of cargo in Xo. 2 hold, all destroyed, the water penetrated two of the other holds to a depth of 0 feet, with the result that in these holds also, the cargo is damaged. The total extent of the damage will not be known until a full examination has been made, and all the damaged cargo discharged. The vessel's future movements are uncertain.

DUNEDIN CARGO. . (special to "the tress.") DUNEDIN, September 4. The Kent has on board 1300 tons of assorted freight for Dunedin, sonje of which is stowed in No. 2 hold. The goods there are described in the stowage plans as case and bale goods, tobacco and machinery. It has been stated that the cargo included a number of Exhibition exhibits. The Exhibition authorities ea-inot say if that is so, but the ship's papers disclose that apparently the cargo for the Exhibition is some fifteen cases of salt.