EXPLOSION ON TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17648, 8 December 1920, Page 6

EXPLOSION ON TRAIN.

THE GISBORNE ACCIDENT.

POWDER IN A PARCEL.

OWNERSHIP ESTABLISHED

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN" COSaZSPOXDEKT]

GISBORNE, Tuesday

Further details of the explosion in a railway carriage at the Gosborne station yesterday indicate that the explosive was "blasting powder, obtained by a your." man, a resident of Matawai. No detonators were contained in the parcel, -which was part of the contents of a military haversack, with which he was returning to Matawai by train. He was not in the carriage at the time of the explosion, but had put the haversack under the seat before going away. The haversack, it is surmised, caught fire from a carelessly. thrown cigarette end or match, and Mr. "Seams' attempt to put out the smouldering flame burst the paper parcel of powder which, on contact with the sparks, ignited.

Two other men, who were on their way to Waipaoa to split posts, and who were conveying the parcel of powder Eubse- * quently found unexpJoded in the luggage rack of the car, thought it was their powder which had done the damage, and promptly presented themselves at the police static*. In the meantime, however, the young man had also declared that he wished to make a statement, and did bo to the stationmaster.

Besides those already mentioned, another occupant of the carriage, Mr. James Murray, of Te Karaka, sustained slight injury to one of his hands, but went on by train to his home. Describing the accident a spectator said the explosion was of a deafening character and was followed by much bewilderment' The carriage itself was filled with black smoke, and people immediatelv rushed to the spot. Thev were shocked to find injured people in the carriage, and no time was lost in extricating the un fortunate ones and seeing to their comfort as much as possible, pending the arrival of medical assistance.