Tunnel Security Tightened

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 3

Tunnel Security Tightened

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 15.

The Mines Department had taken steps to ensure that no more premature explosions would occur in the Manapouri tunnel, the Chief Inspector of Mines (Mr L. S. Jones) said tonight.

Mr Jones said the Mines Department was still investigating the reasons for the recent explosion in the tailrace tunnel. “There is little doubt that this type of accident is the most serious that can occur in a mine, and the reasons

for it are usually pretty I clear,” he said. “However, this particular accident is a little strange—although we have some pretty good ideas over how the accident happened. Wc know why it happened—but to prove how it happened is another matter,” he said. Mr Jones said it was fortunate the charge had been a light one. “Some of the men were pretty badly injured. They were lucky that no-one was killed,” he said. Five men were injured when a charge being used to blast part of the face in one of the Manapouri power project tunnels exploded while men were still loading spoil on a truck.