EXPLOSION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 June 1924, Page 5

EXPLOSION

..—,— FATAL RESULT. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) NAPIER, June 18. The sequel to the explosion of an acetylene gas cylinder at Port Ahuriri °n November 21, 1923, was heard in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice MacGregor and a special jury of twelve. The plaintiff is Florence Louise Sporie, widow of one of the men who died as a result of injuries received, and the defendant the Acetone Illuminating and Welding Company, from whom* the sum of £2OOO is claimed. Mr. P. J. O’Regan appeared for the plaintiff,, and Messrs O. P. Skerrett and J. Humphries for the defendant company. The action was not brought under the Workers’ Compensation Act, as Sporie was not a servant of the company, He was a driver for a carrying fi”m, and happened to be on the wharf when the cylinder exploded. Plaintiff contended that Sporie lost his life through the negligence of the defendant company. Evidence was called to prove that all the welded cylinders of the class being used by the defendants were liable to explode, and that only solid-drawn cylinders were safe. If welded cylinders were used they should be protected by matting or rope coverings. Under cross-examination by Mr. Skerrett the plaintiff admitted that the labour unions were paying all the costs of the action. Mr. Skerrett contended that no negligence had been proved. For fifteen years the company had been exporting a large number of gas-filled cylinders of the same type as that which exploded, and never before had had an accident. The greatest. producers of acetylene gas in the world, a Swedish company, sent out unprotected cylinders. The hearing was adjourned.