BOMB EXPLOSION IN DUNEDIN

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27638, 20 April 1955, Page 9

BOMB EXPLOSION IN DUNEDIN

NOISE HEARD MILE AWAY SMALL CRATER FOUND IN GARDEN (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 19. When a hand-made bomb was exploded in the garden of a Dunedin home about 4 a.m. today, the explosion was heard more than a mile away. An Army expert said it was caused by a specially-ma de bomb consisting probably of gelignite, or “plastic explosive.”

At 3.50 a.m., Mr and Mrs M. Hammond, of 406 Cumberland street, a closely-settled area within the Town Belt, were awakened by a “terrific” roar,” which shook crockery and rattled windows.

Mr Hammond looked out of his window, but could see nothing suspicious, and told his wife he thought the nearby Dunedin Public Hospital had just had a boiler explosion. This morning he discovered a small bomb crater in his vegetable garden. He immediately called the police. Sections of fuse, part of a detonator, and waxed paper, similar to that used to wrap gelignite, were found in the garden.

A fortnight ago a thunder flash was dropped outside a hotel, and three days later a car drove down Hope street at night and threw some form of bomb from a window. The police have not yet identified the object. Last week, another thunder flash was dropped in Student’s walk.