EXPLOSION IN AUCKLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 June 1907, Page 4

EXPLOSION IN AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, Thurs. A loud explosion in Wellesley-street East just before 10 o'clock this morning considerably startled the people in the vicinity, and the sound of breaking glass showed that the incident occurred in D. and J. Miller's plumbing estabChambws. So loud was the noise that these in the Council offices ran out in haste to ascertain the cause. The explanation was that a benzine tank, sent for . repairs, had exploded under somewhat singular circumstances. The tank had been placed on trestles, and rested on its side, and two taps were open, as well as a vent in one end. Mr T. Leaning started to do some soldering to the other end (really the bottom), but had scarcely applied the heat before there was a loud explosion, which resulted in him being knocked over and bruised, but fortunately not seriously hurt. So violent was the explosion that the other end of the tank was blown out, and the compressed air in the room escaped by bursting the glass at the top of the pavilion and also blowing out the upper windows of the shop front. Mr Leaning was sire there was not any benzine in the tank.