SCOW EXPLOSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1933, Page 7

SCOW EXPLOSION

MISHAP AT LYTTELTON. [pee press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 1. An explosion in the engine room of the auxiliary scow Ngahau at Lyttelton early this morning, demolished one of the cylinders of the motor and started a fire. A young engineer, Errol Donne, had a 1 narrow escape when a piece of metal from the cylinder flew between his logs as he stood by the motor. The fire was controlled by extinguishers. The explosion was due to engine trouble, and occurred when the motors were being warmed up. The Ngahau was timed to leave this morning for Kaiapoi and Wellington. She will be delayed several days. Captain Carey, master of the Ngabau, said the explosion was caused through the skirting breaking off the piston in the aft cylinder of the port engine when a charge exploded in the ordinary way. The explosion spread through the cylinder to the compression chamber, where the charge ignited and caused the damage. "It was sheer hard luck,” ho declared. The Ngahau was making an early start from Lyttelton in order to catph the afternoon tido on the Waimakaiiri bar. It was unfortunate that the accident should have occurred, putting her out of action, as she has been laid up at Lyttelton for two months, and has just received a Kaiapoi order. The scow carries a crew of five, all Aucklanders.