DEEP-WATER DUMP: EXPLOSIVES FROM FLOODED AREA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 4

DEEP-WATER DUMP: EXPLOSIVES FROM FLOODED AREA

The Gisborne Harbour Board’s launch Takitimu filled an unusual role yesterday when its services

were requisitioned for the disposal of a quantity of explosives from the mercantile magazines in Gisborne which suffered partial inun-

dation during the May flooding;.

The launch was loaded with about four tons of gelignite and other types of explosives, with a quantity of detonators, taken from the isolated magazine buildings in the Awapuni area. These were taken well out to sea and dropped in about GO fathoms of water, the cases being opened and small quantities being dropped from time to time as the launch cruised just outside the Ariel reef. The launch staff was involved only incidcntly in this work, which was carried out under the supervision of the chief inspector of explosives and his assistant, who came to Gisborne to make an examination of the material and decided upon its disposal. Strict precautions observed in connection with the handling of the explosives included a prohibition against smoking on the launch until after the job had been completed, and extreme care against the exposure of a naked flame of any kind.