Hastings Boy Invents Deadly Bomb

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 279, 25 November 1939, Page 6

Hastings Boy Invents Deadly Bomb

Work Fully Deserving Of Encouragemen ARMY OFFICE PRAISE From Our Own Correspondent HASTINGS, Nov. 24. Inventive ingenuity and initiutivi which one would expect to find in < person of much more mature years hai been shown by a nine-year-old boy Arthur John Maclntyre, sou of Mr. anc Mrs. A. Maclntyre, of Turamoe, Hast ings. Although only in Standard 2 a the Hastings AA r est School, this boy ii particularly interested in chemistry, anc claims to have worked out a formula for a bomb. Only after hours of experimental worl with the limited chemicals and appara tus at his disposal was tho formula foi the invention w’orked out. Secret plan: were then prepared by the lad and for warded to tho officcr-iu-chargc of the Army Office in Hastings. Young Mac Intyre worked with secrecy on his in ventiou, and it was only a week or sc ago, after he had forwarded the plan. 4 to tho authorities, that lie took the head master into his confidence and announced that he had designed a bomb that would “blow up the school.” For a boy of his age the plans showed considerable skill and much painstaking work. The letter acknowledging receipt of the plans at the Army Office is to-day a greatly-treasured record by the boy. In an interview this morning Mr. AV. A. Gun, who has been officer-in-cliarge of the Army’ Office in Hastings during the past two months, commented most favourably on tho initiative shown by the boy, and said that his interest in such advanced work fully deserved recognition and encouragement.