ACETYLENE EXPLOSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7355, 6 February 1911, Page 5

ACETYLENE EXPLOSION

TWO MEN KILLED ONE A MEMBER OP THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. By Telegraph—Press Copyright (Received February 5, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 5. Mr George Bertram! Edwards, M.11.R. for Noctb Sydney, met with a terrible death at his residence, Huon Park, Turramurra, yesterday. Mi* Edwards was engaged with a man named Graham overhauling* an acetylene gas plant, when an explosion occurred and both were killed instantly. Messrs Edwards and Graham, were terribly injured about tho head, and the force of the explosion blow their bodies several yacrds and wrecked the shed. Mr Edwards was apparently standing over tho tank . watching tho repairs. Mr Edwamds’s death will mean a severe loss to tho Federal Opposition, as ho was one of tho mo&t prominent and strongest members. Mr Edwards ■was a native of Hobart, whore he wa & born on January 30th, 1854. His father wap a ‘journalist, ami Mr Edwards, after ,receiving his education at Christ Collegei, Hobart, turned his energies in tho same direction. For a ttiuci he wasf editor of the Tasmanian “Mail." Ho was intimately connected with the fruit export trade,* and a great enthusiast in orchard work, while his spare moments were employed in collecting Australian lietrature and works ■ relating to tho hL/tory of the island continent. Mr Edwards was# returned to the first Federal House of Representatives for South Sydney in March, 1901. and re-elected in 19X5, In 1906, owing to business engagements, lie retired, but in April! last, when Mr Dugald Thom-on retired, Mr yards waa returned by a large majority for North Sydney, as a follower of Mr Denikin. He was a consistent advocate of a Obmmonwcalth coinage, and of the decimal system of moneys and the metric system of weights and measures.