EXPLOSION AT PALMERSTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 5

EXPLOSION AT PALMERSTON.

GAS STOREHOUSE ABLAZE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTUX NORTH, this day. A sensational explosion occurred this morning in a storehouse at the railway gasworks. The gas engineer), James Gat-field, had entered the shed, and a loud detonation occurred. He was blown out of the doorway, and rather badly burnt on one arm, bis face ako being scorched. The store, which contained six cylinders of gas, burst into flames, and 1,500 cubic feet of gae were consumed, leaving the cylinders empty. Some people feared that the reservoirs would burst, but this wae impossible, aa they are provided with safety valves. The fire brigade worked steadily in face of great odds, and succeeded in confining the outbreak to the building in which it. occurred. Mr. Gatfield was removed to his home, where he is progressing as well as can be expected. Several -minor explosions occurred after the first, but no damage resulted from them. The ehed was gutted, but the machinery i,3 practically intact. Telegraph, telephone and tablet wires were destroyed by the heat, but have now been restored, and trains are running as usual.