FIRE ON WHARF

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 131, 4 June 1937, Page 6

FIRE ON WHARF

EXCITEMENT AT AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph—Press Assnciatlon.)

AUCKLAND, June 3.

■• ,A; fire which, caused . damage estimated at several hundreds oJE pounds broke out in the Auckland Harbour Board's gear locker in a shed on Queen's Wharf. shortly after 5 o'clock this evening. Trams stretched in two long stationary queues, in Queen Street, while motor vehicles all drew to the kerb to give the brigade a clear path to the scene. Smoke could be seen' rising against the spars of the passenger liner Monowai at the end of the quay, and the gathering crowd was full of excitement. The wharf gates were closed ■■

From a locker full of old paint the flames spread quickly and piles of cotton waste, cork lifebelts, and . ropes were all ablaze, but with several leads of hose the firemen had the outbreak under control within half an hour.

The most serious damage was the charring of a new 16-inch manila towing hawser which had not yet been used.

Water from the lioses leaked through the floor of the loft into the harbourmasters wharf office below. Records and log books were quickly removed, but the officers on watch tonight had to work under difflcultiei.