EXPLOSION IN TUNNEL
WORK AT RIMUTAKA DELAYED
ISOLATED POCKET OF GAS
(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 30.
Precautions have been taken to prevent further trouble after an explosion in the Rimutaka tunnel last Friday. None of the workers was injured, and work on the tunnel was resumed after a few hours.
The explosion, which was mild, was 'caused by an accumulation of gas. On the jidvice of the Mines Department testing apparatus for detecting gas has been placed at the face, ana m each of the three shifts there are men who have received instruction on gas detection.
The Chief Inspector of Mines (Mr R. H. Schoen) went from Wellington to the tunnel face immediately he received news of the explosion. He was there within an hour and a half and was then able to report that there was no more gas present. He thought t small accumulation of marsh gas hac been brought in by water seepins through the wet face and was probably Ignited by a cigarette. ‘‘Smoking has since been banned at the face, although the Mines Department—and I would like to emphasise this—does not anticipate that there will be any repetition." He thought the gas on Friday was an isolated pocket.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26745, 31 May 1952, Page 8
Word Count
206EXPLOSION IN TUNNEL Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26745, 31 May 1952, Page 8
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