THE OHURA EXPLOSION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue XXXXI, 16 June 1920, Page 7

THE OHURA EXPLOSION

DETAILS NOT YET AVAILABLE.

(by telegraph—preSs association.) TAUMARUNUI, June. 16.

Reports concerning the gelignite explosion at Tatu are still very meagre and contradictory. The only definite information the police have received is that an explosion of gelignite occurred, but they do not know how, and that Mrs England, her infant son, and Miss Lilburn were killed.

Information received from an Qhura resident by telephone is to the effect that England put a packet of gelignite in front of a fire to dry and went away to milk his cows. An explosion occurred, and it is thought that perhaps the women put the gelignite on the stove. Mrs England was blown out of the back door and expired in a few minutes after the arrival of the doctor. Miss Lilburn was in a separate room when the explosion occurred, and her body and the infant's were buried under the ruins of the house, which was practically wrecked. The stove was blown to pieces. The deceased \*&ere the only persons in the house . # The explosion occurred between eight and nine o'clock on Tuesday morning. The very frosty night on Monday probably made the gelignite exceptionally sensitive to heat.