ONE MAN KILLED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 110, 19 February 1935, Page 5

ONE MAN KILLED

FIVE HURT, TWO SERIOUSLY. EXPLOSION OF GUNPOWDER. ACCIDENT IN A CAMP. (Per Press Association). HASTINGS, This Dayi. One death occurred and five people were injured—two of. whom are in a serious condition—as the result of an explosion of a quantity of gunpowder ignited at a camp at Waikonini station, 30 miles from Hastings, late last night. The men concerned are:— . . Dead.

Mr Arthur Patrick McGuire, a. married man, aged 38, whose wife resides in Dannevirke.

Injured. Mr Thomas Conn ell, a married man, aged 32, in a serious condition. ■ Mr Alexander H. Emerson, a single man, aged 30, serious.. Mr Thomas Sanders, a single man, aged 24, condition not serious. Mr George Algie, a single man, aged 19, condition not serious.

Mr 'Samuel Geak, a married man, aged 45, not serious.

Mr McGuire was cutting trees on Waikonini station. Mr Gem. is County Council roadman, and the remainder are employed on farms in the vicinity. At about 10 o'clock last night the men were all in Mr McGuire's tent, Mr McGuire was testing a short piece of fuse and, after lighting it, threw it down. Suddenly it dropped into a bag containing gunpowder used for blasting purposes, an explosion occurring as a result.

The occurrence was discovered by M l ' Frank Hildreth, who was returning home from town. He was stopped by one of the men and wtlh the assistance of neighbours brought the men to Hastings in cars, arriving soon after midnight. Mr McGuire died at 7.15 this morning. ' ' The condition of Mr Conn*! and Mr Emerson is causing concern. INFANT KILLED BY LORRY. HASTINGS, February 18. A 20 months' old child, the son of Mr George Frederick Peeves, a carrier, of Haumoana, near Hastings, was fatally injured yesterday through being caught under one of the wheels of the lorry which Mr Reeves was moving about on the lawn at the back of his house. Mr Peeves had been Washing and cleaning the lorry. The child when he last noticed him was playing at a chopping block a few yards away. Mr Reeves had occasion to move the vehicle and be did not suspect that the child had come anywhere near. He felt a bump as the vehicle moved. On getting out he .saw the little boy lying under the near side, back wheel. The child was taken to the Hastings Memorial Hospital and died there a little while after its admittance.