EXPLOSIVE IN COAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20333, 14 August 1929, Page 10

EXPLOSIVE IN COAL.

DISCOVERY AT GASWORKS.

SECOND TIME WITHIN MONTH

WATCHFULNESS AVERTS MISHAP. I

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN" CORRESPONDENT.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday

For the second time in about a month a stick of explosive has been found in the coal supplied to the Sumner gas works. However, information to the effect that the coal was all part of the one consignment is reassuring, in that it indicates there was only the one oversight and that the occurrence is an isolated one. About a month ago the first stick was found by an employee after the coal had passed several times through the loader's hands. It was in a saturated condition. This explosive is very powerful, but in the wet slate it has been found to be practically innocuous. Had it been put into the- furnace with the coal it would have rapidly dried and there would have been another tafs to tell.

The second stick to* bo discovered was similar to the first.

The Sumner Borough Council has written to the Mines Department and to the manager of the mine concerned, and from both sources has received u definite assurance that in future the'greatest precautions will be taken. The watchfulness of the employees at the gas works can now be thanked for the prevention of two serious accidents.