TWO EXPLOSIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 91, 27 January 1934, Page 8

TWO EXPLOSIONS

ABANDONED SEWER, >: ~ . WINDOWS SHATTERED. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, Jan. 26. Two explosions, which sounded like a naval sa’lvo, followed by the appearance of darting flames and heavy clouds of smoke, occurred at 3 o’clock this morning in. an abandoned sewer in Albert Street. They shattered 25 windows in seven buildings, and, had workmen engaged on drainage operations been on duty in the street at the time, loss of life must have resulted. The precise cause of the explosion is puzzling. Experts tentatively hold the theory that gas of some kind accumulated in the sewer, and somehow became ignited. A resident in the locality says _ he noticed a smell at 10 o'clock last night which he thought was sewer odour. After the explosions the smell reminded him of carbon gas. A subsequent examination of the gas main, which passes over the sewer, revealed no leakage, and it is reported also that the electric power cables m the vicinity are intact. Although the hour was early, a surprisingly large crowd of sightseers assembled! after the explosion. lne sewer, which is 14ft below the suifaee of the street, was abandoned firteen years ago by the City Council, but workmen have beeil driving a tunnel shaft in connection ivith the stormwater drainage system. The view was expressed this morning that had tins shaft not been driven and an explosion had occurred, the whole roadwav would have been blown up-