STREET EXPLOSION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 100, 2 May 1929, Page 13

STREET EXPLOSION

SHOP FRONT SHATTERED

CABLE FUSES AND BUKXS

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "Tho Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

After betraying its presence by a "cloud of heavy Bmokc, which warned people in tho vicinity, a fused cable in Lower Queen street, opposite the Chief Post Oflicc, caused an explosion at 5 o'clock last evening whirii tore the front from one shop and broke a number of plate-glass windows. It hurled the broken glass into the middle of the road, and was followed by flames which burned furiously through the pavement for over half an Uour. When the homegoing crowds were thronging the left side of Queen street on the way to the Ferries smoke burst from the pavement, denoting the failure of the electric cable under fhe footpath. The waterfront police were quickly on the scene, and with the aid of the traffic officers diverted the stream of pedestrians on to the roadway. At ho same time they warned the Auckland Electric Power Board. It was well th.-t the footpath was cleared, *- shortly afterwards an explosion startled hundreds of people in tho vicinity, and a shower of broken glass was hurled across the road, while jets of flame shot up from the footpath burning with a fierce ;oar. The greatest damage wan suffered by the smallgoods establishment of It. was u-i-cckrd. Tho window was blown out. Cooked meats, ham, and lacon were strewn on thr footpath, while the two sido windows were' both shattered and the contents thrown out. A heavy marble counter over an inch thick and four feet wide was split in three places. The manageress, Miss M. Brownlie, and

four Assistants had a fortunate escape. None was injured in any way, although all received a severe shock.

The broken splinters extended as far as the safety zone on the other ;de of the road. A passer-by, Mr. H. P. Andrew, headmaster of the Curran Street School, was struck in the foot by Hying glass. Ho received a deep cut, and had to receive treatment before he was able to continue home.