WHARF TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 20

WHARF TRAGEDY.

high explosive.

t CHINESE FIREWCRKS.

TYPE BANNED IN N.S.W. SYDNEY, November 5. Experts who investigated the cause of the explosion of Chinese crackers on No. 5 wharf, Darling Harbour, decided that either friction or percussion was responsible. They found that the crackers contained a powder which is dangerous if subjected to shock, and which is not permitted in fireworks sold in New South Wales. The explosion caused the death of one man, and three other wharf workers are in Sydney Hospital. The investigation was carried out by officials of the explosives branch of the Mines Department and Detective Wilson, of the police arson squad. The shipment of the fireworks to Fiji has been held up. The crackers, which were packed in about 300 cases, were brought to Sydney on the Nankin from China for shipment to Suva. They were being loaded on the Niagara when a case exploded. The powder contents of the crackers

included potassium chlorate and other sensitiva explosives. More than 10 years ago the Customs' Department banned the entry to New South Wales of such fireworks from China, because of the risks to which the children would be exposed by handling them. Consignment Stored. Under the direction of the Chief Inspector of the Explosives Department. (Mr. Parsons), Inspector Mander-Jonei and other Explosives Department officials, Customs officers,, police and firemen took the whole of th" consignment of fireworks from the wharf and stored it in the magazine of the Explosives Department. The crackcrs will be kept there until it is decided whether they will be transhipped to Suva or destroyed. It was officially stated that, because of their powder content, such fireworks were extremely dangerpu&, and every attempt to land similar crackers in Sydney from China had been promptly checked. When the explosion occurred the consignment for Suva was under observation, and the handling of the cases during transhipment to the Niagara was being carried out with caution. An expert said that had the whole consignment exploded, the detonation would have been sufficient to wreck the wharf. The condition of the three injured men in Sydney Hospital is satisfactory.