GUY FAWKES DAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19013, 8 November 1923, Page 11

GUY FAWKES DAY.

DANGER OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. TWO STRIKING' INSTANCES. (Fbom Ocr Own Correspondent.) . AUCKLAND, November 7. Guy Fawkes Day in Auckland this year has supplied two striking; instances of the danger of using explosive devices other than fireworks especially manufactured for the purpose. A second case of'the dangerous use of a ship’s rocket has come into public notice as the result of the disquietening experience of an Epsom family. A number of children were gathered in a garden at the residence of Mr S. 11. Howie, Epsom, on Monday evening, when a deafening explosion occurred on the roof, accompanied by a brilliant shower of sparks. A second later a heavy object richochettcd off the roof on to the concrete path. This proved to bo a ship's rocket bearing the label. “For vessels requiring assistance as ordered by the Board of Trade.” Yesterday a search revealed the head of a rocket buried in the bord. dry soil of the lawn to a depth of nearly Sin. It had the appearance of a shell with the cap off and contained a neatlvcut lump of turf. Further search brought to light the wooden cap of the rocket. The wooden rod, measuring about 7ft in length, was broken in three places. The family and neighbours were naturallv somewhat perturbed over the incident. The children evidently had a narrow escape from serious in jury, if not death, while if the rocket had alighted on a shingle roof instead of an iron one, or had it Tanded in some inflammable material, the result might easily Wave been a fire. The three persons who were soverly burned as a result of the premature explosion of a ship’s rocket at Parnell on Monday evening are reported to bo progressing favourably in the hospital.