OIL POURED ON FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22723, 8 May 1937, Page 18

OIL POURED ON FIRE

EXPLOSION CAUSES DAMAGE YOUTHS APPEAR IN COURT [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Friday A fire which occurred near a Public Works shelter on tlio Jlimutakas on a rainy night in March had its sequel in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when two youths appeared before Mr. ,T. H. Lux ford, S.M., charged with committing mischief by damaging a men's shelter, a tool box, 25 gallons of fuel oil and its container and an air compressor, to the total amount' of £3 17s Gd. Sub-Inspector C. E. Uoaeh said the young men were members of a cycling party which left Wellington for M'astorton on March 2(5. When they reached tlio Rimutakas it began to rain, and they took shelter in a shed. They lit a fire, and as the shelter had no chimney they were smoked out. They shifted the fire outside, and broke pieces off tool boxes to keep the fire going. The two accused rolled ;i drum of oil up to the fire and turned on the tap. The fire was soon raging, and before long the drum exploded with a loud report. An air compressor standing near was damaged. Tlio youths left hurriedly for Wellington, but were stopped at Upper liutt. "There is no criminality in this case." said the magistrate, "The whole thing is one of those unfortunate circumstances which sometimes occur. The rase will be adjourned for a fortnight. You had better have a tarpaulin muster, and if the damago is paid for [ propose to dismiss the caso against both of you."