SHELLY BAY COMMISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9284, 2 May 1891, Page 2

SHELLY BAY COMMISSION.

THE FINDING, The Commissioners find "That the cause of the explosion that occurred on the fore* noon of the slh of March, 1891, at Shelly Bay, was due to overheating a loaded primer tin, in the process of soldering on the lid.'’ There are seven enclosures, including evi. dence of the witnesses, minutes of the proceedings, plans of the smithy, photographs of its interior, &o, t &o. ; and lastly the confidential report of the Commissioners.

The latter is as follows : CONFIDENTIAL REPORT.

Auckland, April 15, 1891. The evidence shews that at about 11.15 a.m. on sth March, 1891, Torpedo-man Rosa and Torpedo-man Cornwall were employed in the smith’s shop, at the bench between the largo forgo and the window, closing loaded primer tins with solder, the fire in

the large forge being alight at the time and the blast in use. As Ross and Coronal! finished soldering on the lids they placed the primer tins to their own right on the bench near the door, and at the moment of explosion four or five finished tins were in this position. Near the small forge were two other loaded primer tins, the dry ootton in them covered with three inches of ashes, which Torpedo-man Goldie had taken from the exterior ashes of the large forge and also from the small forge. The lids of these primers were being made and fitted by Torpedo.man Densem, prior to their being ultimately soldered by Ross and Cornwall. Thus there was one primer being soldered by Ross and Cornwall at the bench, two, without lids, near the small forge, and five with their lids soldered on standing on the bench, on the right of Ross and Cornwall—one of these, by the evidence of Torpedoman Goldie, a little to the right of Cornwall, the others closer to the door. During the operation of soldering on the lid of the primer they were engaged at, just when about two-thirds completed, Torpedo-man Woods came into the shop and borrowed the soldering-iron from Rosa.and used it to solder four copper wires to four small brass brackets ; ho then returned the solderingiron to Ross at a low temperature (vide Wood’s evidence), aud left the shop. Ross must consequently have reheated the solderiugdron to complete closing up the primer, and it was then, in applying the reheated soldering-iron to the primer tin, that sufficient beat was communicated to ignite the dry gun cotton contained in it. Although Torpedo-man Cornwall gives evidence that he must have felt any undue heat, yet we are of opinion that the overheated surface was of a small extent, and nearer to the dry gun cotton than to his hands. On this supposition that the gua cotton ignited in primer tin No. 1 (that being soldered by Ross), we now propose to trace the several explosions. When the heated gases and fiamea from primer tin No. 1, reached the detonator, the remainder of the gun cotton below the dry primer detonated. Then two primers which were standing uncovered, near the the small forge wore ignited, and in their turn when the heated gases reached the detonators, detonated, and lastly the primer tins on the bench near the door ignited and detonated. With regard to the procedure of Captain Falconer in prepaiing dry primers for experimental charges, wo cannot acquiesce. The application of solder to cases containing dry gun cotton is attended with very great danger, and individuals employed in submarine mining are to forbid those under their orders to apply beat in any form to cases containing gun cotton, wet or dry (vide confidential memorandum 7890*6788, War Office, 2Cth Feb., ISBO. The storage of live charges fitted with detonators in the mine store is against recognised rules, particularly when the simple and ordinary precaution of insulating the ends of lead wires from detonators is not observed.

Still more irregular is the permitting of primer tins containing charges of dry gan cotton to bo taken into the smith's shop unprotected by cover when a forge was alight. Long custom and practical familiarity with gun cotton appear to have assured Captain Falconer that there was no danger to bo anticipated by the above system of procedure.

It appears from the evidence of Captain Falconer that be was never made acquainted with the existence of the War Office confidential memorandum, 7893—G7SS, of 2 6/2/86 (copy of which Is attached), or have we been able to find, after a most exhaustive search, that this special memorandum was forwarded to him by the Undersecretary of the Defence Forces, Captain Powell states that this circular was brought up with others by Captain Falconer in June, 18S9, and the evidence received at Auckland from Petty**Officer Grant, Corporal Boyle, Torpedomen Barclay and Inglia tends to substantiate tbi=». Bat there is no evidence to show how these circulars wore obtained by Captain Falconer from the Defence Office, and Captain Falconer denies having brought any circulars at ail with him when visiting Auckland in 1889.

We also observe, on visiting Shelly Bay, that cases containing gun cotton supplied for the filling of mines were not under cover ; also that the cases in which the gun cotton, cuttings from slabs, and quadrants for filling mines were also open and exposed to rain and sun. Suitable pits for gun cotton and for the storage of such material are de« sirable. We further gathered from the evidence the periodical testing of mines and spate g m cotton had not been regularly carried out. However, the cases from which the slabs of gun cotton were taken for filling mines were previously weighed ; but no re* turns of this or testing have ever been re. corded, apparently, at tie Shelly Bay or other submarine mining stations. The above remia* sions point to the necessity of there not only being a commanding officer to each of the submarine mining station*, bat also to the necessity of a permanent responsible head, who sbonld be answerable for such return?, not only in connection with torpedo stores, but all warlike materials in the Colony, ia order that remissions and departures from regulations may be immediately checked. In conclusion wo may add that we found the Shelly Bay submarine establishment ia creditable order.

Captain Falconer ia familiar with the details of submarine mining, and appears to be a steady, zealous, and intelligent official.

In submarine mining work of every description, whether mines or experimental charges are being prcpaied, no precautions as laid down from time to time by the War Office should be neglected, and sure steps should be taken by the Defence Office that such memoranda are issue! as orders to commanding officers, to be by them copied, noted, and returned ; this would ensure a knowledge cn the part of commanding officers and a punctual obedience to War Office regulations. We enclose Captain Falconet’s teeti. monials, which speak very highly of him also a letter on the subject of the circular of 26'2/86, referred to by Captain Powell^

CommnadlDg Sab-Mallno Mmlog Corps “t 'ss.?: itoh ?L°r r "oTS« the survey Depart&°We are also mnoh Indebted to Captain Barolay, who acted as aeoiotary to the Comtms. lion, for the prompt manner he carried oat the Instructions of the Premier; “ Q<i > hia ready assistance, wo were able to proaooato our enquiry with expedition. r ’ M - p ASTIjE I Commissioners. J, S. White 1