OHAKUNE EXPLOSION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2804, 23 June 1916, Page 7

OHAKUNE EXPLOSION

THE INQUEST f

THE VERDICT OP THE JURY

By Telegraph-Press Association.

„,, . Ohakune, June 22. Ihe inquest concerning the Ohakune fatal explosion was resumed to-day before the Coroner 1 (Mr. Aldridge) aud a jury of six. Mr. Macassey represented the Public Works Department and Mr. Harris the relatives of the deceased. Dr. MacLauriu stated that lie investigated the quarry and found samples of I explosives in perfect order. He was sure the accident was not due to defective explosives. Witness explained Hie way of wiring the explosives as carried out in tunnel No. 2. The ends of tho wires ran from the explosives along the roof of the tunnel and hung down near the mouth Teady for testing or louring "up with similar wiring i n tunnels 1 and 3,"preparatory to all being Bred simultaneously. In uis opinion the explosion was due to misadventure in testing.the wires. Tho custom was to test tue wires within a galvanometer. He thought the.testing had been carried out because a portion of a galvanometer was found near the tunnel. The.galvanometer was produced and its working explained. Tue portion found was similar to Nobel's galvanometer produced. The current generated was 0.05 amperes. To tire a detonator 1.0 amperes would 'be necessary. Two red seat dry batteries produced were found, and may have been used. He could not think they would havb any other, use at the quarry..Some galvanometers would not produce the current. The red seal cells could be used providing tho current passed through the iralvanometer, but grave 'danger might arise because it would bo easy to inadvertently, touch the wires together instead of touching the galvanometer poles. He wanted ■to emphasise that he was satisfied, this' explosives were not decomposed. There was no evidence that che cells were.used, but he assumed so.

Robert Holmes, Engineer-to the Public Works Departuieut, stated that the minefields used for military' defence were tested daily by cells coupled'with''a galvanometer. Witness agreed in the' possibility of Dr. MacLauriu's theory. It H'oiild not be.wrong to use.the cells for testing with, a' galvanometer of sufficient resistance. Nobel's possessed sufficient. lie knew this was so because he and Dr. MacLaurin .had, proved 'by experiments. Considering the nearness of the poles on Nobel's it was .risky;to use an outside cell. The appearauce of the red seal cells was. such as', to indicate ,:that' they had been.subjected'to the force of compressed air caused by the explosion, ' . . , Michael, Sheedy, recalled,' .gave ' evidence that ho had seen cells similar to tliose" produced on the staging .between the tunnels, ifcllsop was using, a galganometer before the charge was put in tunnel No; 3. He'did'not see the cells on the 1 day of the explosion.

Alfred James Bader, Resident-Public Works Engineer, for Taiimarunui district/, said he: was satisfied Mellsop had a. fair; knowledge of electricity. The question of firing explosives' by electricity had been discussed .'with Mellsop. -Witness'arranged for. two detonators.and a, 6afety fuse toreach charge, so that testing was not necessary. He did not give orders that testing was. not to lie done, but. the conversation/was to the effect that owing, to the detonators'and fuse further/precautions were, not essential. He had no reason to doubt "Mellsop had sufficient; knowledge to carry out the. operations. He would not engage in'a test while the men were near, the charge The usual .procedure was for all to remove, to a safe position. He was' hot aware'that the • red seal- batteries were ori the job. He understood that the assistant engineer had received them from post "office stock, written off as unserviceable.: They probably retained sufficient strength- to test ..wiring through a galvanometer. ■ -. This /completed the; evidence.Replying to the Coroner's,query,.Leggo, ; Nobel's representative, who was' ;uot sworn,,stated: he' had no' doubt that Torrens'was; blowii,.tu';.ashes'.■ .." :-'.''■'■., '

. The Verdict, The" verdict was as follows :—

The jury are '"-agreed that G. H. Mellsop, A. Davis, H. Larking, W.M'Cord, and V. M'Garry met their deaths at the Ohakune public. works quarry asthe result of concussion caused by the premature explosion of a charge -. consisting of dynamite, panibvite, and gelignite, which had been placed in N0..3 tunnel, in the quarry. ".-'.-■ ' The jury arc further agreed that from the'evidence adduced there is no doubtthat Torrens was in the ''tunnel. at. the time/of the explosion, and was reduced to ashes. :