AN EXPLOSION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1933, Page 3

AN EXPLOSION

ON MOTOR SHIP,

AUCKLAND, May 22

With his clothes in flames a mart emerged .from the,,. engine-room scuttle on the iiiotor ship Margaret W. shortly after 2 o’clock tins afternoon and hurled himself into the. harbour. His nroseiice of mind probably saved fus life.

W Graham, aged 26, of Auckland,, is second engineer on the \ossel. and was filling a “cartridge” used to start, the Diesel engines, with, lpcthylatea spirits. The tin exploded arid jdie burning contents were sprayed all over the engineer’s clothes, as well as his face and hands. At the time of the. acc’dent Graham was working alone in thy engine-ioom. Apparently .he realiseq. that his only chance was to get ont .oi, tlie engine-room without help. Thy that anyone else oil the ship kuew. about the mishap was when .they,,saw Graham come on to the deck from .the. engine-room scuttle. The scuttle opens, near the starboard rail, .and. the engine eer, aflame from head to foot,, weiiu straight over the side. . Fortunately, one or' tlie motor ship’s surf boats was tied up. alongside/, and Graham , was able to obtain a hold. The boat was then pulled to some steps nearby steps, and Graham was helped out of. the water. •

Graham was burnt about the face and hands, and was taken to hospital., A sack caught fire in this engine-room, but the outbreak wa s suppressed by an extinguisher, before any damage had been done. Tlie Margaret W; -is loading for East Coast ports. Graham’s condition was reported to he serious-.-' Ile was conscious. -•

THE OFF-SIDE RULE

“Referee” has contributed further interpretations of the rules Of' rugby for the guidance of players. Dealing with the off-side rule: A 1 player is off style if, while the ball is iii A" Scrummage, he, not being, in the scrummage, remain with either foot in front of the hall; or, if when the hall is thrown in from touch he stand in front of a like at right angles to the touch line from the place whence the ball is thrown. The penalty in these " instances is a penalty kick awarded at the place of infringement. A player is also off side if the ball lias been kicked or touched or is being carried by one of his own team behind him. No o ff side player shall play the ball or in any way obstruct an opponent, or approach or wilfully remain within ten yards of an opponent waiting for the ball. The penalty is a kick at the place of infringement," or a scrummage where the ball_ last played by tlie offending team;" at the option of cither team. '

No player with tlie brill in his possession after it has come out from a scrummage, shall attempt to force his way through own forwards. '