BORE EXPLOSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23003, 2 April 1938, Page 14

BORE EXPLOSION

USE OF GELIGNITE MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED BROTHER'S LUCKY ESCAPE DAIRY FACTORY ACCIDENT [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN COKBESFONDENT] TAURAN'GA, Friday Serious injuries were suffered by Mr. H. Perkinson at the Katikati dairy factory at Waitekohe as a result of an explosion of gelignite during boring operations for water, With his brother. Mr. D. Perkinson, the injured man had been carrying out the boring. They had reached a depth of 6oi't. when large boulders were encountered, necessitating the use of gelignite. A charge had been laid and fired and Mr. H. Perkinson was replacing the boring rod in the hole when a terrific explosion occurred, hurling the boring apparatus out of the bore. Ihis struck him in the face, injuring an eye and fracturing his skull. His brother, who was attending to the winch to which was attached the wire rope of the hoisting gear, promptly shut off the gear, but he was at that moment thrown on to a water tank by the explosion. % Dr. Keenan, of Katikati, attended Mr. H. Perkinson, whose condition is serious.

it is surmised that more than one plug of gelignite was placed in the bore and that the second plug exploded when tiic boring rod was being replaced.

PREMATURE BLAST QUARRY WORKER HURT STRUCK BY FALLING DEBRIS THROWN DOWN STE'£P FACE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] TAURAXGA, Friday As a result of a premature explosion rltiring blasting at H. L. Dureen and Company's quarry at Papamoa, a worker, Mr. Charles J. Alcoek, was struck by flying debris and thrown down a steep face of 18ft. Mr. Alcock received injuries to his body and head, including both eyes, and" was taken to the Tauranga Hospital.