Heating Gas Explodes Under Auckland Streets

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 17

Heating Gas Explodes Under Auckland Streets

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Nov. 15. Explosions from an underground gas main ripped the grass verge and roadway in Alberton avenue. Mount Albert, this afternoon and tonight. Escaping gas caught fire and an emergency gang from the Auckland Gas Company is working through the night to cut off the blazing section of pipeline. Traffic officers cordoned off 100 yards of the New North road and diverted cars.

Passengers from trolley buses also walked through the war memorial grounds to transfer to buses on the other side of the fire. The kerbline outside the war memorial was torn for about 50 yards and steam drifted from three punctures in Alberton avenue and .in the pathway leading to the Mount Albert Baptist Church. Parts of the concrete paving were hot to the touch. The first and most violent explosion at 4 p.m rocked

shops. on the corner of Alberton avenue. Other explosions occurred at 7 p.m. and shortly before 10 p.m. The gas main is close to a sewer madn and there were fears that it might break the larger main. Gas Company gangs exposed the pipeline on either side of the breaks to cut off gas to the burning section. There was another muffled explosion and a blue flash of flame from the main break shortly after 11 p.m.