AN INFERNAL MACHINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 3

AN INFERNAL MACHINE.

SENT THROUGH POST.

BUSINESS MAN'S LUCK.

MECHANISM FAILS TO ACT.

(By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day. Death or mutilation to dozens of people ami the wrecking of a threestorey brick business building. Such were the terrible potentialities of an innocent-looking parcel that awaited its addressee at the premises of Magnus Motors, Ltd., in Wakefield Street, on Monday, but faulty mechanism averted what would have been a shocking disaster. Delivered in the ordinary course by a postman, the infernal machine—for such it turned out to be—lav in the office, where it*was to be caUed'for by the man to whom it was addressed, a country client who is in the habit of collecting certain of his mail at the firm's premises. Outwardly there was no indication that anything was amiss, but when the covering was stripped off the parcel and the lid of a wodden box was raised it was found to contain a fairly large quantity of gelignite and a mechanical contrivance no doubt intended, if set in operation, to cause an explosion with fatal results. Fortunately, however, the mechanism was defective, but experts consider that had an explosion taken place the person handling the box would most certainly have beeh blown to pieces, and that any other people in the vicinity at the time would have had a very remote chance of escape from a similar fate. The parcel was opened in the manager's office on the ground floor about 3.30 in the afternoon, and between thirty and forty people were in the building at the time. Detectives are investigating the affair, but it is considered that at present it would be inadvisable if any further information were made available to the public PRIMARY SCHOOLS HOCKEY. AUCKLAND V. WELUNGTOIT. WIX FOR SOUTHERNERS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.'H WELLINGTON, this day. At Karori Park yesterday, representatives of Auckland and Wellington primary schools gave a fine display of hockey in the contest for the Norton Cup. Wellington were left in possession of the trophy by six .goals to five. Butler (Auckland) effected some good saves in goal. The fullbacks gave a good account of themselves, and the half line worked well. At half time the score favoured Auckland, 6—3, but Wellington ran to 6—l, and then finished at 6—5-