EXPLOSION OF GUNPOWDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 February 1935, Page 2

EXPLOSION OF GUNPOWDER

ONE MAN KILLED TWO IN SERIOUS CONDITION THREE OTHERS INJURED (Bv Telegraph—Press .Association) HASTINGS, This Day. One death has occurred and five are injured, two of whom ar e in a .serious condition, as the result of the explosion of a quantity of gunpowder ignited at a camp at Waikonini station, 30 miles from Hastings late last night. The men concerned are — Arthur Patrick McGuire, dead, aged 38 years; married, with a wife in Dauuevirke. Thomas Connell (32), married; in a serious condition. Alexander H. Emmerson (30), single; in a serious condition. Thomas Sanders (24) single; condition not serious. George Algie (19) single; condition rot serious. Samuel Geake (45) married; condition not serious. McGuire was cutting trees on the Waikonini station. Geake, is a county council roadman and the remainder were employed on farms in the vicinity. About 10 o'clock last night the men were all in McGuire’s tent. McGuire was testing a short piece of fuse and after lighting it threw it down suddenly. It dropped into a bag containing gunpowder used for blasting purposes and mi explosion occurred as the result. The occurrence was discovered by Ftpnk Hildreth, who was returning home from town. He was stopped by one of the men and with the assistance of other neighbours brought the men to Hastings in cars, arriving soon after midnight. McGuire died at 7.15 this morning. The condition of Connell and Emmerson is causing concern.