FIRE COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1836, 17 August 1906, Page 3

FIRE COMMISSION.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, yesterday. At tho Wool and F.ax Commission today, Captain J. G. Smith, Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine, said ho had seen a oajo cf woo! smoulder ng when tho hatches wore tnkeu off a vessel. He had not formod any theory as to tho profcr.ble causo of these fires. Ii was iu bis opinion tbo woo'pnck that fired, and he thought is would bo a good precaution to saturate the packs with a solution to render tbo material non combustible. Ho aid not think it would be wise to take wool and tow in ths same hell on a long voyage, C-p!aiu Evans, Marine Superin'eodent for tho SbuW, Si\ ill and Albion Company, sbid that ho had had no experience! oi fire in cargoes at sos. Ho had no! theorised as to the causa of tho fi<cs.

Wellington, last night. Giving evidence before iho Woolships’ Commi-siou, Crpi. W. Y. Bendall, Marine Surveyor to tbo Underwriters’ Association, said that of lata years there had been trouble with wool conveyed by ra'lway. Most of the trouble had occurred with fellmongors’ wool. S.earners nowadays carried on work a little beyond tbs pom: they should do in rainy weather. There had been no underwriters’ supervision during the last twelve months. Ho thought it would be a good thing if harbor boards had an inspector to whom auspioious wool ciul.l bo rtf rrsd, whose decision that it was dangerous would make it compulsory for ships to refuse Bupb wool.