WHARF SHED AFIRE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 118, 4 June 1937, Page 8

WHARF SHED AFIRE

Talecrsph— Fzeas AasoeistloB.)

Alarm During Rush Hour at Auckland

(By

ADCKLAND, Last 'Night, Screaming sirens and the roar of two speeding fire engines caused exeitetoenfc among crowds in Ihe eity streets sliortly after 5 o'cloek. A fire which caused damage estimated at several hundreds of pounds had broken out in. the Auckland Harbour Board's gear locker in a shed on Queen's Wharf, Thfc trams stretched in two long statipnary queues in Queen atreet, while motor vehicles ali drew to, tho kerb to give the engines a clear path. A crowd quickly gathered, but the. wharf gates were closed and people stood on the roadway and traffic was temporarily blocked. f Rumour was rife, and it was f reely whispered that one of the large overseas ships in port was on fire. Smoke could be seen' rising against the spars of the passenger liner Monowai, which.' is eompleting her recommission at the end of the quay, The fire, however, was confined to a small loft in one corner of the roof of shed No. 16. Apparently starting in m locker full of old paints tHe flames had spread quickly and piles of cotton waste, coi;k lifebelts and xopes were all ablaze. With several leads of hose the firemen had the outbreak under control within half-an-hour. The most serious damage was the charrin'g of- a new 16-ineh manila towing hauser which had not yet been used. Oue of the massive rope fenders which is shortly to be fitted to the bows of one of the board's tugs fortunately escapcd the flames. Further -inconvenience was caused to the Harbour Board when the water from the hoses leaked through the fioor of the loft into the harbourmaster'e wharf office below. Records and log books were quickly moved out. The officers on watch to-night had to work under difficulties.