Sessional_Paper_1949 — Page 38

Sample 4938

Sample 4939

Sample 4684

34

These samples were taken for identification, and for future reference.

(d) Remainder of Godown.

(i) Right-hand end (Stacks 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28).

The commodities found are as shewn in the plan. The Phenol crystals were packed in steel drums which have bulged but not burst; the sulphate of ammonia and phosphate fertilizer in bags; remaining commodities in drums.

(ii) Area covered by Stacks 44, 45, 46, 47, 48.

The corner between stacks 44-45 edge of 47 contained a confused 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 solid green dye, and others, a liquid greenish dye which has not been 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 case shewed the product to consist of cellulose gloss lacquer, packed 6 × 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 cellulose 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 sacks. 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.

confused.

(iv) Area covered by Stacks 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 43.

In this area there has been considerable fire, and the goods are greatly

Stack 31 consists of steel drums of solid dyestuffs; at the end of this is a small stack of cellulose lacquer against a pillar. At its side are the remains (metal tops and bottoms) of a conjectured stack of rubber accelerator (32); and against this is another long stack, of rosin in kegs (33); the latter is almost entirely carbonized.

This latter stack abuts upon a pillar, where it is met by a stack of metal drums (38) filled now with carbonized residue. These have split or burst, releasing their volatile contents. It is conjectured that they may have contained rubber solution.

At the junction of these two stacks, there is a hole in the ceiling leading to a flue-pipe; this will be discussed later under "Theories of origin of the fire".

In the passage way before the stack are a number of empty "film" drums precipitated there by the blast.

At the corner of this area there has been a small stack of cellulose lacquer (37) and a case or two of what may be printers ink (36).