GERMAN MINE EXPLOSION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16506, 25 April 1919, Page 6

GERMAN MINE EXPLOSION.

FURTHER DETAILS OP THE TRAGEDY. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND. April 24. Tho enquiry regarding tho tragedy at "Waikoria Beach on Monday, by which throe natives were blown to atoms by a German mine, was opened yesterday. After taking ovidenco of identification, tho enquiry was adjourned sine dio to enable expert evidence to bo obtained as to tho probable cause of tho tragedy. Tho natives wem given permission to bury the remains, and preparations are now in hand for a tangi at Pukerowa. Tho beach , presented a gruesome sight after tho tragedy, .fragments of the victims a.nd their horses being strown in all directions. Mr Ryan, who was first on the scene, stated that thore were two explosions. The first was a dull boom, followed pimost immediately by a sharp, deafening report. On examining the beach ho found two parallel lines drawn on the sands in the diroetion of tho water, is if some heavy object had been carried in by the tide, dragging on Llie sand as it came ashore. It is surmised that the three men, seeing an object on th<j bcach went out to inspect it and tampered with it. with fatal results. It is also suggested that tho mine may have been bunod in the sand and exploded by ono of the horses standing on it. Tho natives at tho seen© of the tragedy stated that some montlls ago a. mine came ashore near the entrance to Raglan Harbour, and exploded with aterrific report against a cliff on tho beach. Thoy stated that fragments of tho mine were in the possession of tho local natives, but no report had over been mado of the occurrence.