Cause Of Copra Fire.
p. 26 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Rarotonga, Aug. 12.
A SMALL fire occurred here a few days ago amongst some sacks of copra stored in a shed. Fortunately, there was no serious loss.
The cause was probably a sack or two of copra becoming saturated with water during loading operations across a bad reef from one of the islands, to the schooner. The wet sacks possibly found their way into the centre of the stack in the shed and later developed sufficient heat to cause spontaneous combustion.
By good fortune the outbreak occurred during the daytime.
Papeete, Aug. 28.
INFORMATION received in Tahiti from the s.s. “Recherche,” a Messagerie Company vessel which left this port for France on July 23, states that a fire broke out in No. 2 hold in a cargo ot copra from the New Hebrides or the So ciety Group.
Luckily the Marquesas Islands were not very far distant at the time and the steamer was able to reach the harbour of Taiohae, in Nukuhiva, and discharge the damaged produce amounting to about 100 tons, before the fire had be come really dangerous.
Mons. Louis Bouchet, late Governor of Tahiti, and Madame Bouchet, were pas sengers aboard the vessel, en route to France.