THE TURAKINA FIRE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8954, 21 October 1907, Page 2

THE TURAKINA FIRE.

In giving evidouce at the inquiry into the fire ou the Turakina, Captain Forbos, master of the vessel, said that lie had formed tho opinion I that the iiro originated m tho flax loaded at Auckland; there the highest temperature was recorded when tho temporaturos wero taken about a quarter of an hour after tho fire was reported.' No precautions were taken so far as lie know, to ascertain the temperature of the iuuor portions ot the bales of hemp taken in at Auckland That was never done, but ho ■ilways examined tho surface ot the balos. Tho only precautious against matchos wore that the men had to leave their coats behind; there- was no soarchiug. It was the second officer's duty to soo that coats were not taken below. If smoking wont ou either the officer or tho stevedoro would detect it. His opinion was that the lire started on the inside ot tho bales; when they put slings round the balos that were not destroyed, they collapsed. That happened to threo balos, and his theory was that fires must have started in tho insido of those bales. They came within abonf 10ft, of tho spot whero they believed tho fire originated. He would not say that the'jbales wero fired by spontaneous combustion ; he ! only related what ho saw. The out- ! sides of tho three balos wore black, | but thev woro not completely burnt, 1 luside thoy wore completely burnt. There were 850 bales unaccounted tor out of considerably over 700. To Mr Johnston : Tho three bales referred to as collapsing after being attached to tho sling, had been sudjectod to tho hoavy fumes of sulphur from tho patent extinguisher. That may or may not have confined the fire to tho inside of tho hales. Matches might got amongst flax beforo it reached the ship. Ho had had instances of that. Ho was quite sure that thoro was no chance of a match getting into the hold after Auckland was left, • Snpt, Hugo, of tho Welhntgon Fire Brigade, stated that he had had experience boforo of fires said to be connected with hemp. He was not able to give any opinion, on the cvidonco ho had hoard, as to the cause of tho iiro. For some time he had carried out experiments on his own account, but had never been ablo to got near to spontaneous combustion. , ~ Mr Myers: But you have a thooiy in regard to theso fires generally? Witness : "Yes, I have, and a very gtron" one. I nave been round these wharves while flax is being loaded, and have seon men smoking alongside. I have seen passengers walk on to tho boat smoking cigars and cigarettes, and I have seen officers standing over the open hatch smoking. There was tho case of the, Moeraki in 1905, when it was stated that a man lost something in tho cargo, and struck a match to find it. Thero is plenty to account for theso fires. This smoking in ships is an open thing. I have stopped it myself m the holds of ships years ago." Mr Mvors : Assuming spontaneous combustion to be possible, would you expect it to arise within four days after the vessel had loaded?" Witness : Certainly not. To Mr Johnston: His experiments with regard to spontaneous combustion had been on a nrnall and private scale, entirely for his own information. Boforo coming to New Zealand eight and a half years ago ho hart been a master mariner. In those days lie had often seen men smoking in'tho holds of ships; ho had not seen it during his residence hero. In England nobody was allowed to enter a dock with matches in las possession. Tho usual precaution was to mako men change their clothes. Precautions wero not so strict in America, "whore tho other fires come from."

Per Press Association. Wellington, October 21. The inquiry into the cause of the fire on the Turakina was resumed to-clay. Mr* Myers, for the Collector or Customs, put iu a copy of a letter from tlio Acting-Manager of tho Sew Zealand Shipping Company to tho Secretary of tho Marino Department, statins that in the comnauv's steamer Kaipara, which was discharged in London, wax matches of colonial make wore found among tho cargo loaded at the Bluff. Mr Burns, Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, said the Turakina was insured, but he could not say for how much. The consignors of the flax cargo could be traced, except part of those shipping Auckland cargo, but ho could not trace the consignors of Auckland cargo stowed in the 'tween decks. Tho company was most desirous of assisting iu every way to ascertain tho cause of the fire. Tho value of the cargo on tho Turakina when tho tiro broke out was £130,000.

Captain Beudall said ho was unable to form any opinion as to how the fire, originated. Answering Mr Mvers, he said he had not seen matches taken . into tho hold by workmen. "There was a time," added tho witness, "when men stripped off their coats and waistcoats and gave them in charge of ship's officers, but this was no longer done." When witness was supervisor for tho Underwriters' Association he had frequently prevented flax from going on board ships because it was subject to fermentation and would sweat. Often several bales were rejected from one shipper or one. locality. He did not agree with Captain Forbes, of the Turakina, that three of the bales had fired from the inside. He thought thev had become ignited from without. lie had seen some of tho liax rescued from tho Turakina. which, had ho been in authority, lie would never have allowed to bo shipped. It was not properly drossr ■, and was liable to fermentat' ■ -/oreruuner of spontaneous eouibustioii. Max was dangerous cargo if not dry, properly prepared,; and proporly looked after.