THE OILS, OR THE INSULATION?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 860, 5 July 1910, Page 4

THE OILS, OR THE INSULATION?

INDRADEYI FIRE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.» Auckland, July 4. Tlio inquiry into the fire that broke out on the liner Indradevi at the Queen Street Wharf oil Juno 22 was continued to-day. Charles Frederick Moiling, chief officer, stated that the contents, of the paintlocker included certain oils in tanks. If the tanks were full, the oil was liable to spill with the rolling of the ship in rough weather. Witness had examined the locker two ov'three times a day, and the only oil which escaped was two or three gallons of raw oil, which was immediately bailed up. It was a common occurrence I'm oil to be upset in the paint lockerj by menus other than spilling, m rough weather. Ernest Edward Madge, .second oilicer, staled that, when the lnilradevi berttird at Auckland. he was in charge ol the hvo after hatches, and superintended the discharging on the day'preceding the fire, At no time during the day or night did lie see men smoking in the hold. The opinion w liieh ho had formed wits tnat the tiro was due to spontaneous combustion, but he could not say what cargo was responsible. The combustion must have occurred in (lie charcoal insulation, as it was Quite burnt out, leaving the iron plate visible. Leonard Stopford Acheson, third officer, slated that, when ho came in contact with the fumes from the fire, he concluded that the outbreak was amongst the charcoal in the insulation. The 'inquiry was adjourned till tomorrow.