EXPLOSION MYSTERY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13352, 9 April 1914, Page 7

EXPLOSION MYSTERY.

UPPER HUTT DISASTER

(Per Press Association.) UPPER HUTT, last night. At the inquest on the victims of the Upper Hutt tragedy oh March 29th, before Mr W. G. RiddeU, district coroner, further evidence was heard. Albert F. Cooper,. 15 years of age, said that at the time of the fire he was m the employ of Messrs Benge and Pratt. He was aware that the firm hep gelignite and blasting powder m stock. He had seen a case of the former and a keg "of blasting powder on the premises. At on© time the explosives were kept upstairs. There were times when there was no gelignite m stock. ' He remembered a case of gelignite coming into the shop on 6th February. It was then taken upstairs, where .he last saw some of it two or three weeks before the | fire. He last saw gunpowder m the Toom about Christmas time. Witness was not altogether surprised at tho explosion. He was surprised, at its force, however. Ho had never seen calcium of carbide m the main building at alj. To Mr Morrison : He did not remember Benge making a drawer out of a, gelignite box. The keg and box might have been empty. He had never: seen gelignite sold on the premises.