FIRE ON LINER.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1924, Page 3

FIRE ON LINER.

BY TELEGRAI’II —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGItT. WELLINGTON. September 11. A lire on tbe New Zealand Shipping Cnipany’.s .steamer. Kaikmira, now lying at Wellington "barf, damaged a considerable quantity of cargo mostly copra. Tlie fire was discovered on Satur.l av liiglit on the starboard side of the vessel aft. It being ascertained that the fire had secured a good hold, the services of the City Fire Brigade wife secured. The ship's hose was also brought to piny, and the IT arbour iug also came to the rescue with plant. Not much difficulty was experienced in extinguishing the fire. A large quantity of water was poured into the hold.

'Pile leal extent of the damage is difficult to ascertain, but it is hoped that nothing outside the copra cargo is seriously affected. The heat buckled the deck over the hold, and damaged the wireless jlaul. which "ill have to he rc-ereeled. No insurances are available.

The fireman who descended the hold to tackle the Haines had a most dangerous task. Tin- fumes were so thick and overpowering that smoke helmets were needed though some* ol tile crew went into the hold with only wet handkerchiefs covering their laces. The oily copra made good luel and some other cargo in the vicinity of the kauri gum and some kauri planks and sacks holding sand also caught alight.

The lire, which was discovered just after 11..T0 on Saturday night, was not got completely under till ILoO oil Sunday morning.

Great praise is due to all the fire lighters for the manner in which the Haines were prevented Irom spreading to the other holds. In the alter part of No I hold there is stored a considerable quantity ol oils and paints, and had these ignited the lire would prolialilv have Ikhmi di>asiroiis.

11l the forward part of No o hold then- is a large quantity of llax, but the llames were prevented from reaching it. The llax was damaged by tbe water.

However, it is was impossible to eslimato tlie damage yesterday, but tbe loss will be heavy apart Irom the damage to the cargo. Structural repairs will have to be made to the ship. New decking will be required and possible new plates on the starboard side. A new wireless installation also will probably have obtained though the emergency set v.as workable \este nlay. Gangs uf men worked yesterday removin'' the damaged cargo to the liarhour Board's sheds. All of il was loaded at Auckland. The cause of the lire is unknown, though the general opinion ascribes it to spontaneous combustion amongst the copra. The Kaikmira is a vessel of tons, owned by the New Zealand Shipping Company, but is running under charier to the Federal Company. The shipping company’s superintendent (Ices not expect the vessel, which „i,s lo have sailed to-day for l.ytt'Ttl n will lie long delayed here, but she must remain until Lloyd’s survey... bas reached a decision. mufTii it —