DETONATORS IN COAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19714, 13 August 1927, Page 12

DETONATORS IN COAL.

QUESTION OF EXPLOSIONS. OTHER CAUSES POSSIBLE. The explosion of a detonator in a fire in Parliament Buildings has been followed by'others said to be due to the same cause. While there is no reason for doubting that the system of checking the supply of explosives to shot-firers in mines has been at fault in some mines, it is remarked by a mining authority that the effect of a small explosive can be produced by other things than detonators and he suggests that in every reported case the wire attached to all detonators should be produced as definite evidence. Years ago, he said, an explosion in a grate was reported, the. explanation of which later came from the confession of a boy that he had rolled up a number of photographic films and had dropped the ball into the back of the fire. This had spouted flame and, naturally, the alarmed parents had blamed the coal supply. Apart from foolish practical which might be inspired by a genuine accident with a detonator, it was possible for a stone to explode under the ";u----fluence of ' intense- heat " and convince people that it must be another detonator. The system of controlling explosives in mines had not been changed as far as he knew. Supplies were issued to the shot-firers, who were responsible oflicials, and their stocks had to balance with the record of the'number of shots fired."

TOP OF STOVE SHATTERED. EXPLOSION AT NGARUAWAHIA. An explosion' occurred in coal in the stove at. the residence of Mr. William Dare, Ngaruawahia, yesterday. The top of the stove was shattered, a kettle blown 011 to the floor and embers scattered over the room. Fortunately no one was in the room at'the time.