SHOCK AT DANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 8

SHOCK AT DANCE

EXPLOSION OF GELIGNITE CHARGE UNDER HALL STEPS BUILDING VIOLENTLY SHAKEN DAMAGE NOT SERIOUS [from our own correspondent! HAMILTON, Sunday With a startling detonation that was heard over a mile away a charge of gelignite was exploded under the sidesteps of . the Frankton Town Hall shortly before nine o'clock last night. Although a dance was in progress and there were over 400 people in the building no one was injured. A section of the weather-hoarding was blown away by the explosion, and the steps were hurled several feet away from the building.

The building is a large wooden structure in Hall Street, and a few yards away from the entrance to the Frankton Junction railway station. It is owned by tho Hamilton Borough Council, and is leased for dances to Messrs. W. S. Menzies and H. Gollop. The steps under which the explosive was placed are on the left side of the hall, and lead to /a large double door which is kept closed while the dances are in progress. Floor Packed With Dancers.

The floor was packed with couples engaged in the third dance of the evening when the explosion , occurred. Simultaneously with the terrific report the building trembled violently and tho floor seemed to lift several inches. The band and the dancers stopped immediately and a number of women screamed. The dance organiser, Mr. Menzies, acted promptly. Ho threw open a large door at the end of the hall in case anyone should want to leave, and then commanded the band to continue playing. As soon as the music recommenced he turned and reassured the crowd, saying: "Carry on; there's nothing to be afraid of." Calmed by Mr. Menzies' display of confidence those present then began to dance again as if nothing had happened.

Cloud of Acrid Smoke When several officials connected with the dance went outside they found that the extent of the damage was not as great as they expected from the loudness of the report and the violent shaking of the building. The reason for this •was that most of the force of the explosive was spent in the air. Fragments of wood were hurled across a vacant section and on to the roof of an adjoining house. There was a cloud of acrid-smelling smoke around the steps similar to the fumes of exploded gelignite. Several feet of scorched fuse were also, found of the type usually used to discharge gelignite. Had the explosive been placed further under the floor' of the building, where it would have been in a confined space, much greater damage would have been done. :

There is no apparent motive for plac-' ing the gelignite under the steps, and the police are making inquiries in connection with the matter. Considerable alarm was caused in the neighbourhood by the loud report, and a number of residents rushed out to investigate the cause of it.