HANDLING EXPLOSIVES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 133, 3 December 1906, Page 7

HANDLING EXPLOSIVES.

■ » _, THE WESTPHALIAN ROBURITB DISASTER. NEW, ZEALAND REGULATIONS. The dreadful explosion of roburite near Witten, in Westphalia, has made some people curious abcut tha New Zealand Government's regulations for safeguarding people who have the handling of dangerous materials. Fire, supposed to be due to an incendiarist, broke out in the mixing-room of a factory where a large quantity of roburite was stored; there was a fearful detonation, with, a loss of over fifty lives. The regulations issued under the Explosives Acts of 1882 and 1906 deal with roburite. It is mentioned that tliis substance, which is a fairly well known^xplosive, may be admitted into the colony m three grades:— "No. 1, consisting of (a) nitrate of ammonium, with or without an admixture of nitrate of sodium and neutial sulphate of ammonium, or either of them, provided that the amount of nitrate of sodium shall in no case exceed 50 per cant, of the total amount of nitrates present; and (b) thoroughlypurified chlorinated di-nitro-benzole, with, or without the addition of thoroughly purified chloro-nitro-naphthalene and chloro-nitro-benzole, provided (1) that such chlorinated di-nitro-benzole shall not contain more than four parts by weight of chlorine to every 100 parts by weight of chlorinated di-nitro-benzole and (2) that the proportions of chloro-nitro-naphthalene and chloro-nitro-ben-zole shall not amount to more than 2 per cent, and 5 per cent, respectively of tha linished explosive. Roburite No. 2—2 — Consisting of rcburite No. 1, as above defined, with the addition of chloride of ammonium and sulphate of magnesium, or either of them. Roburite No. 3 Consisting of nitrate of ammonium mixed or incorporated with thoroughly purified di-nitro-benzole and chloro-naphthalene, provided that the latter does not contain more than 50 per cent, of chlorine and that the chlorine does not exceed 1 per cent, by weight of the finished explosiye." According to the Act of 1882, "explosive" means — (1) Gunpowder, nitroglycerine, dynamite, guncotton, blasting powders, fulminate 'or mercury or of other metals, coloured fires, and every other substance, whether similar to those above-mentioned or not, Übed or manufactured with a view to produce a practical effect by explosion or a pyroteehnio effect ; and (2) includes fog-signals, fireWorts, fuses, rockets, percussion caps, detonators, cartridges, ammunition of all descriptions, and every adaptation or preparation of an explosive as r.bove defined." It is stipulated that "no factory for, making gunpowder in any manner, and' no magazine for keeping or storing gunpowder, shall be established or maintained except on the site and in th« manner specified in a license granted under this act." Then it is set forth that the factory must have an isolated site, and the Commissioner is given wide powers. He may insert "any special terms which he may think fit, by reason of any circumstances arising from the locality, the situation or construction .of any buildings, or the nature of any process, or otherwise, having regard io the safety of the public." Tho manufacture of other explosives is subject to the same restrictions as those lor gunpowder. By a Bill passed last session it is enacted that all sales of explosives must bo entered in detail in a book, with tho namo, address, and occupation of the purchaser. Packages must be distinctly, branded "explosive." Any person apparently under the age of fifteen years is not allowed to buy explosives. A' stranger to the dealer is also debarred from purchasing unless supported by; some witness known to the vendor. Regulations gazetted on 16th June, 1898, provide that "No explosive shall be imported into New Zealand unless it has been passed by an inspector ; and no inspector shall pass any explosive which is not imported in accordance with the 1 so regulations," and the eighteen clauses quoted seem to indicate that importers of explosive substances hava to exercise proper care. ■ 1