THE TURAKINA FIRE INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 29 October 1907, Page 2

THE TURAKINA FIRE INQUIRY.

Per Press Association. , , .Wellington, Moaiay. The inquiry regarding the fire on the Turakina was resumed, to-day. Mr. Johnston, hemp grader at Auckland, said he had graded hemp shipped by the steamer at Auckland.' There were HQ bales classed common, 160 at 70 points and over, and 182 bales good-fair. All bales were, having regard to their grades, in good order and quite dry. Some wera graded SQ points—the lowest possible limit. He had had over thirty years' experience with flax, but had nfever see® spontaneous combustion or anything approaching it. He would still say that the flax shipped was suitable. Some of the tow he had seen! at Miramax waa shockingly bad. He had often seen flat so heated and so -warm that the hands could not be put on it, but had never seen it burn. He did not find a single bale that was to be shipped by tho Turakina that could be condemned. Walter Middlemas, grader at the Bluff, said he had graded flax at Port Chalmeri and the Bluff for shipment by the Turakina. There was nothing that could ba rejected,

E. Edwards, stevedore's workman, said that in general men took their coats down to the hold. He had never seen smoking in the hold or matches accidentally dropped. Judgment will be given to-morrow ip. the Turakina fire inquiry.'