WELLINGTON EXPLOSIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 February 1940, Page 2

WELLINGTON EXPLOSIONS

POLICE INVESTIGATIONS

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON,, .February 8. With two explosions., on the Wellington .tram tracks; within .12 ■ hours; and -the probabilitythat.. theS.b, were caused by the placing of., explosive charges on the-tracks and- 1 their firing by i contact with the tram wheels, a sinister complexion is cast-on the-oc-currences. Detectives- are investigating; both incidents',- and . electrical sub-stations and power distribution poihts are being closely watched lest the activities of those responsible for the explosions be carried to other spheres. The first explosion was on Wednesday night at 9.35 on the Berhampore section of the Island Bay line, when the ; explosion forced up the floorboards in front of the tram; shattered and cracked windows; and brought the tram to an abrupt halt. After being towed to Newtown car barns, the me’chanism of the-car was- found to be in full running order, and tile' car was driven under its own power to the main sheds at Kilbirnie.- This effectively disposed' of any possibility that the explosion arose from an electrical fault in the motors', or, control. .Close examination went to show that the force of the explosion was much greater than. that , from a standard. detonator.

The general manager of the- Tramway Department of the City Corporation (Mr. M. Cable) said to-day that the explosion was evidently caused by a charge,placed oh the car track, and the police wore making .'investigations. Analytical experiments will be carried out in an effort to ascertain the type of explosive used and to decide whether the charge was of a “homemade” variety.