FIRES IN WOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1867, 22 September 1906, Page 3

FIRES IN WOOL.

CRESS ASSOCIATION Dunedin, last night. The Wool F.rea Commission to-day con-:, cludid taking evidence in Dunedin, thcc Commission boing somewhat disappointed. at no mere witnesses coming forward, Tto'e was little dow evidence to-day. Captain W. Thomson, who was for ■yfars Underwriters’ surveyor, thought; there m'gbt be something in the sulphide! of sodium which wool absorbed that might: be dangorous. : '■ i J, E. Galbraith, superintending‘strove-; doro of the Shaw-Savill Company, said’ there woto strict instructions that tl ■.% and tow must fco stowed away spirt from o’her cargo, and when this was not possible it was well divided.

J. R B ,xter was satisfied the cause oi fire lay in ime, annual matter, minute from shoep, caustic soda, or any ether soda in a orudo state. The daDger was excessive moisture in wool with foreign substance.

John Roberts, of Murray, Roberts and Co , thought wot, groasy wool wou'd not fire itself He hul seen wool packed wet g< t into a very heated state, so much so that the interior of the bale beoams block

pulp, but ho never saw it ignite. Wool was non conductive, and it did not fellow that because the inside of a bale became

hot the outside would de the seme. It would tike a long time for the best to get outaido He did not tbmk superficial wotting in loading would contribute to fire.

Other witnesses gave evidence of an unimpo’rtant nature.