EXPLOSION OF GAS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 208, 27 May 1908, Page 8

EXPLOSION OF GAS.

NARROW ESCAPE . OF THE-MASONIC HALL. At about 11.15 a.m. yesterday, Charles Roots, in the employ of.tho Wellington Gas Company, entered an understair recess at tho Masonic Hall, Boulcott Streot, to do certain work ,in connection with the meter, whon an escape of gas became ignited-by a candle'held by his mate at the door, and the result was an explosion, which slightly scorched Roots's face and arm. ' The explosion filled the recess with flame, arid the whole of the interior woodwork caught on fire. The Brigade were telephoned for, and, thanks to their fine promptitude in getting to the scene, the Hall, which is an all-wood building, was saved from iiny very: serious damage. The whole of the interior of the' recess under tlie stairs and the door were charred by \ the flames, which' were fierce enough to • blister the paint on -the ceiling of.tho stairway corridor, indicating that with another' two or three minutes' freedom the flames , would have laid claim to the . interior of the Hall. - '' , The Hall, which is insured, is owned by the Masonic Hall Company, the shareholders in which are connected with various Masonic' Lodges in tlie city.' Only recently the big social hall was enlarged, and the building at tho rear 'was. heightened to provide for a larger lodge-room. At tho same .time a new front was erected from the plans of Mr. G. G. Schwartz. . A'strange thing in connection with the explosion was that several people who occupy offices in the building smeft gas before anything happened ;■ yet on being questioned as to why he approached the meter, whence gas was escaping, with a-bare light, Roots said that ho had not detected any smell of gas, mentioning that those-who work among gas were not so quick at detecting an escape as others. Tho fact that they were always amongst it, and thoir clothes wero impregnated with the smell of gas, tended to deaden thoir sense of smell, as far as gas was concerned. This fact is often exemplified when a small escapo of gas occurs in a room or hall. So gradually does the gas insinuate itself into the air that it is not noticed by those in the room; but anyone entering from tho open air at onco detects its nrescnce. ; '