THE TURAKINA FIRE INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 30 October 1907, Page 2

THE TURAKINA FIRE INQUIRY.

THE COMMISSION'S FINDING. Pet Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. The Court of Inquiry into the Turakina fire found that there was no evidence to disclose the actual cause and origin of the fire, and therefore the Court was unable to say whether it could have been prevented or not. The Court was unanimously of opinion that spontaneous combustion in flax or tow was not the cause of the fire. Inspection of cargo prior to shipment and during the receipt on board is totally inadequate. The Court also emphasises the danger of allowing men engaged in working cargo to take their coats and waistcoats into the hold. The temperature of holds is not taken regularly enough. Recommendations to meet these points are made by the Court. AUCKLAND VIEWS. l 7 Per Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. As various statements have been made regarding the cause of the fire on the Turakina which seem to point to the setting-up of the theory of spontaneous combustion and an intent to throw the blame on the ilax shipped from the port of Auckland, a reporter had a chat to-day with Mr. E. Rutherford, chair man of the Auckland Flaxmillers' Association, and asked his opinion upon the matter. Mr. Rutherford said he did not believe in the spontaneous combustion theory. The best evidence, be said, is that Lloyd's insure flax for 0s 6d from store to store, which would not be done if they considered there was a risk of spontaneous combustion. As a matter of fact, Lloyd's some time ago made a test to satisfy themselves upon that point. A quantity of New Zealand flax was placed in a store and thm damped and kept for a time in similar conditions to those of a ship's hold. After three months the flax was fonnd to be only slightly warm. "Then, even if damp flax was shipped, you think that disproves that it would fire by spontaneous combustion!" asked the reporter. "Yes; but I can assure you that with Mr. W. Johnston at this end as Government grader, there was not much chance of passing damp flax." "That's a fact," interpolated a merchant who was standing by. "My com- . plaint is that the grading in Auckland is more severe than at any other port I in the Dominion."