83
vil
damaged, shewing that it had not been exposed to extreme heat; many of the commodities, also, were such as would be unaffected by fire.
Samples of material were taken as follows:
From Stack 2
"
12
#1
11
17
#!
16
ft
13
Sample No. 4933
11
4934 11 4935
11
"
4936
#1
4937
reference.
(a)
These samples were taken for identification, and for future
Remainder of Godown.
(i)
Right-hand end (Stacks 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28).
The Commodities found are as shown in the plan. The Phenol Sample crystals were packed in steel drums which have bulged but not burst; 4938 the sulphate of ammonia and phosphate fertilizer in bags;
commodities in druns.
(ii) Area covered by Stacks 44, 45, 46, 47, 48.
remaining
The comer between stacks 44-45 odgo of 47 contained a con- fused mass of empty lacquer tins, film drums and sulphate of ammonia. A fierce fire had raged at this point.
Drums of Stack 46 were found to contain dyestuffs; some a Sample solid green dye, and others, a liquid greenish dye which has hot been 4939 fully identified. One of the liquid drums had burst and was lying in
the passage way with an unburst drum.
Near the end of Stack 48 a case of cellulose lacquer, of the same shape and containing the same kind of tins as those on stacks 37, 39, 40, 44 and 45, was found, only slightly damaged. A tin from this Sample case shewed the product to consist of celluloso gloss lacquer, packed 4684 6 x 1-gall. drums to the case, with flash-point below 73°Fahr.
(iii) Area covered by Stacks 29, 30, 40.
On the other side of the gangway another small stack of cellu- lose lacquer had collapsed into the passage. A number of empty drums of the "film" type were lying in front; these had been blown there by the explosion.
Stack 29 is an irregularly shaped stack of caustic soda drums. In two of the spaces in this stack empty drums of the "film" type were found. The remains of a weighing machine can also be seen in the plan.
This stack of caustic soda is interesting as containing several drums of an exceedingly dangerous type recently noted in the Colony. This will be referred to below, under "Theories of Origin".
At the position indicated by Stack 30 on the plan, there was found a large number of sulphate of ammonia sneks. As the fire hoses were playing on this point for many hours, it is conjectured that these sacks are all that remains of a large stack of sulphate of ammonia which stood at this point.
(iv) Area covered by Stacks 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,
38, 39, 43.
In this area there has boon considerable fire, and the goods are greatly confused.