AN UNLUCKY STEAMER

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1919, Page 1

AN UNLUCKY STEAMER

ON FIRE AT TIMARU

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] TIMARU, This Day.

At a quarter past mid-night, a fire . was discovered on the starboard side j of No. 3 hold of the steamer Westmore- j land, lying at No. 3 wharf loading, frozen meat for Home. The vessel arrived here on Thursday to load meat for Home, and was duq to sail to-day. j The vessel touched ground on the voyage from Bluff to Dunedin in May last, j and until last week was lying in Port-; Chalmers undergoing extensive repairs. The ship loaded 50,000 carcases of meat , hero and her loading was about completed. When the outbreak was dis- j covered, dense clouds of smoke soon | appeared, and it was found that the fire was amongst flax loaded at Port Chalmers. The ship’s engines soon got to work, but it was) found necessary to call the Borough Brigade, and quickly two hoses were playing on the flames, one through a hole cut in the deck plates, and the other through a door leading to the hold, and a continuous stream of water was kept playing on the flames till about seven, when the outbreak was suppressed, although the flax is still smouldering. The Brigades are sending hj,' meantime, in case of a further outbreak. The cargo of flax will be discharged as soon as possible, and also a consignment of wool in an adjoining hold, which will require to he examined. The outbreak will cause the steamer to be detained here all Saturday or Monday. As far as can bo ascertained, the steamer lias sustained no torious structural damage, aud meantime meat loading operations a»e being continued and the voyage of'■■■ the vessel is not likely to be seriously interrupted.