A NARROW ESCAPE FROM FIRE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 March 1912, Page 3

A NARROW ESCAPE FROM FIRE.

About 10 o'clock on Saturday evening last a big flare broke out in the vicinity of the Railway wharf which litup the locality, enabling all the shipping to be seen as if under the rays of a strong search lamp. When first seen from the town it appeared as if the Breta Tua was on fire, but on arrival on the scene it was found that a part case of benzine had caught on fire on a launch and had been dumped overboard, when it practically set fire to the river. The tin containing- the oil happened to be in a ease, and not being able to escape freely the flames shot upwards while it floated with the tide, and no danger was anticipated until it was seen to te making straight between the s.s. Bell BUd and the Jarge cattle bargo which were lying side by side at the wharf. By this time a number had gathered on the scene, and as the flames shot up between the two vessels attempts were made to push the floating five post, the paint and tar catching fire it ap> peared as if the boats must go, hut the tide boing strong it gradually got clear, badly charing the sides of "both boats, leaving tho port side of the stern of tho BeU-bird denude of paint be.sides setting firo to the hawsers. Tho bmning oil floated alongside the Oacea slightly charing th,e pain,t, and gradually burnt ou.t. Thus ended what may easily have been a serious affair, as the 801 l Bird was loaded ready to sail on Sunday morning, carrying as dock pargo a number of oases of kerosene, which hipkily were on the opposite side to the lire, Ha(] lire once got started it would have hod'to burn out a tits own sweet will ac there is no lire fighting appliances on tho wharf, nor in the township. We think it time that the authorities that he should .supply fire apparatus on the wharf, and also that t\\o Tft\yn Boaid took intp ; cpnsic]eratiou ' t\\o procuring of appliances and formed a tiro brigade und^r its control. After all the most concerned were Messrs Murdock, Coooran a^d Loch-vood the ocpu.pants of the lunch from where tho mishap occurred, and who were returning down tho river to the dredge on which they are empioyeci.