UPPER HUTT DISASTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 17 April 1914, Page 6

UPPER HUTT DISASTER

RESFMI'IIOX OF THK IXQUEST

[UNITID PEK33 A33OCIATIOH.)

WELLIXGTOX", This Day

The inquest on the victims of the I'pper Hutt explosion was resumed todav.

Among the witnesses who gave evidvn. e was Herbert I'ratt. a partner in the firm ct Benje and I'ratt, whose stole was destroyed. He stated that the firm stocked blasting powder, gelignite, sporting cartridges, flasks of black powder, and detonators. 1 hey never had in stock more than one case of gelignite. On the day .of the fire there was two pounds cf blasting powder in the store, but there was no gelignite thai he knew- of. and lie did not think there could be any without his knowledge. The firm purchased the last case of gelignite oil the 6th February. He said he had endeavoured to trace the sales of 50 lbs. of gelignite during March, but only traced sales to two meiV: Gelignite was usually sold over the counter, and no entries were kept. He presumed the whole 50 lbs. was soldThe books showed that, between 12th September and sth February 90 lbs. of gelignite was sold; after- the 6;h February 6 l-6th lbs. Other sales in the latter period might be in the burnt books. Witness held no license to stock exnlusives.