THE FIRE ON THE WAIMATE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 291, 10 December 1901, Page 2

THE FIRE ON THE WAIMATE.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

FIB PRESS ASSOOUnOX. Napubr Dee-mber 8, The magis'erial inquiry r« the fin on the Wuimate opened this morning before Mr Turnbull, 8.M., and Captain* Todd and Fletcher, Nautical Assessors. Captain H*mon, master of the Wei* mate, said the whole of the flax shipped at Wellington was stowed in Nos 4 and 5 holds, Precautions wart taken to ensure safety, but the tempwatQre was not taken. He had never bean in the habit of doing so. Tha steamer waa supplied with good fire appliances.

William Henry Richer, obief engineer, said there was a first-olass pump worked by an independent donkey • • gine put on board for the purpose. It was not conneoted with the main engine. ~

The Collector of Custom* poh>M I out that under the Aot of 1877 thin should be a hose capable of being oov nected with the main engine. I Captain Davidson, Lloyd's sorveyo , 'considered the flix landed fMa the Waimate very imperfectly dretw'. This would make it more daogerpu* and liable to spontaneous combustion. Mr A. Calvert, Government ehgiiieer, reported that be had inspected th i vessel and found all the applianoes for fire prevention and extinguishing usual in a vessel of that size, and that these were in good order but were not sufficient to cope with such a fire «s broke out on the Waimate. The inquiry was adjourned till to-morrow, when the fiuding will be given.