DAMAGE TO OLD HAUROTO.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1622, 13 December 1912, Page 7

DAMAGE TO OLD HAUROTO.

THREE HOtFES' FIRE FIGHT, . (By Tdeeraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, December 12, .•-••' The Union Company's Island Steamer flaurotb, which, has been anohored in the ■ etream for. about tiro weeks, Was discov;red on firo at 2.20 this morning. The .. ire-was extinguished after three hours, '•:' with assistance of the crew of the ,tug Te Awhina, ■■■'•' ' •■'',',' The fire apparently started in a oabin ■'-..': on-the portsideand spread to tho bridge. ■ , One. of the lifeboats was destroyed. lne " damage is estimated at <£SOO. There was only a watchman on the Bauroto. He gave the alarm by ringing the ship's bell. Two constables proceeded m " i" a motor launch to the steamer, whichi was "- , moored off Northcote; On learning there ■' -was a serious outbreak of fire . roturned and roused the captain and crew 'of tho harbour rug Te Awhina which is kept ' ~ Teady for such .an emergency, with the V' result, that the ■fire was effectively attacked and subdued' after about three hours. . The fire spread from the cabin in wliich .. it started, through' the pantry below tho. bridge, to tho captain's room on the ' bridge.. The'flames rose high, the funnel and ventilators being scorched. ..,-." Later. The account given by the caretaker is : «' \> the effect that-he was fishing off the '-■'• ■ tern of the Hauroto ; about,,2 a.m. when ■. ; .ic-noticed'that- one of the .cabins on the ■ '•':.' ort;sidc was ; in flames before; he cast '"' is fishing line. -He had left in that. ?,. . abin a. small lamp, which, was,lighted, :.' ind whrich- bad probably exploded or ■ apsized.," In his opinion .that would jrobably.'be ..the..cause of the .fire. .■■' The damage is estimatetd at .£IOOO.