THE TURAKINA FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 7 October 1907, Page 2

THE TURAKINA FIRE.

STEAMER EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED: A VALUABLE CARGO SPOILED. Per Press Association. Wellingtoii, Saturday. The fire on the Turakina was extinguished at an early hour this morning. The work of emptying the foreholil of the vessel is proceeding. It is a diHicult undertaking, calling for mueli skill, and is not entirely free from risk of personal injury.

The whole of the meat cargo has been ipoiled, and it is doubtful if the butter 8 in a, saleable condition. These two .terns alone represent .t85,000. The flax, wool, and kauri gum are also lamaged. Mr. Hugo, superintendent of the City

Fire Brigade, describes the outbreak as the most obstinate and difficult fire he has ever had to deal with.

The hold was flooded to the combings, and the water burst into the refrigerating chamber, flooding it to the deck and escaping through the portholes or any other outlet. The whole of the ma-

chinery was covered, but it is untouched by fire. The scene on the deck of tin! steamer to-day is deplorable. The deck on tlie starboard side his buckhd up, and grey patches on the hull show where the fire lias been fiercest.

The damage to the ship herself is extensive, and it will probably be at least one month before she resumes her voyage.

PUMPING-OUT OPERATIONS. THE DAMAGE TO THE CARGO. Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Union Company's movable 10inch pump was placed in the Turakina to-day, and steam was supplied by the tug Terawhiti alongside this afternoon. The forehold is still two-thirds full of water, and No. 2 hold is half empty. The, vessel still rests on the bottom of the harbor. It is not certa'm fnat fiie butter cargo is irretrievably damaged. It is now being stored in the Harbor Board sheds for inspection. Dozens of drays have been engaged all day carting away flax from the ship. The best portions of the wool, (lax, and kauri gum will bo reconditioned. Some of the water pumped into the vessel on Friday ni'ght found its way to the stokehold, which was flooded to a depth of three feet on Saturday. This has now been reduced to a few inches.