SHOCKING ACCIDENT WITH EXPLOSIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8446, 20 March 1889, Page 2

SHOCKING ACCIDENT WITH EXPLOSIVES.

(Peb United Press Association.)

Wellington, March 19,

A serious accident happened at Otaki last night. Rockets were being flred from the balcony of the Telegraph Hotel, when, by some mischance, one shot down into the street and exploded with great force. W, G. Te Waiti, W. M. Muir, and Robertson were seriously, and a boy and Native girl slightly wounded. Other persons had a very narrow escape.

Further particulars of the accident at Otaki yesterday show that four men—three Europeans and one Maori, whose names are Walter Grant (a surveyor's labourer), WiUiam Maxwell (a labourer), John Robertson, and Te Waiti (a nephew of Hone Taipua, M.H.R. for the Maori Western district) —were seriously injured, and it is feared that two of the cases will result fatally. Two or three rockets had been successfully fired and others were lighted, when two of them suddenly shot down amongst the crowd in front of the hotel, where they exploded, inflicting terrible wounds on three of the unfortunate men, who happened to be standing close to where the explosion occurred. Grant aud Te Waiti are the most seriously hurt, the former having been pierced, either with a rocket stick or a stone thrown up by the force of the explosion, in the left breast, the missile passing out on the other side, inflicting a fearful wound, through which part of the entrails protruded. Te Waiti was pierced over the right lung, presumably by a stone, whioh it is thought still Remains in the wound. The man MaxweU received a wound on the right temple and one on the left thigh under the abdomen, severing an artery; and Robertson was hurt in the right arm, which was severely lacerated and pierced by some missile. The men most severely wounded were removed to the hotels, where the doctor remained in constant attendance during the night until his patients were placed in the Wellington Hospital this morning. It is presumed that the explosives, which were ship's rockets, had not been properly directed and lighted.