LIVE SHELL

Southland Times, Issue 22766, 17 December 1935, Page 8

LIVE SHELL

DUMPED IN RUBBISH EXPLODES IN DESTRUCTOR NO DAMAGE (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, December 16. A live shell exploded with startling suddenness at the destructor in Dominion street, Takapuna, during the past week while rubbish was being burnt. At the time of the explosion two members of the destructor staff were at work, Messrs W. H. Henderson and R. Lydster. The former had just raked some rubbish through the manhole of the concrete floor above the incinei’ator and had then closed the lid down. So heavy was the explosion that the solid floor seemed to lift and the building was violently shaken. Three shells have been discovered in refuse tins in recent weeks. One of these was in a highly polished nickelplated case which had obviously been in use as an ornament. All three were noticed before the refuse was tipped into the destructor, but the fourth shell, which exploded, escaped attention and it is not known whence it came. Mr Henderson said to-day that he and his companion were greatly, startled by the explosion, but it was over before they quite realized what had happened. Since the recent death of a boy at Devonport through the explosion of an old shell which had been found at Rangitoto Island, a shell which appeared to be harmless and had been used as a toy, a general warning has been given to the public on North Shore not to keep shells in their possession, as in many cases it would need an expert to tell whether the projectile was alive or not. Some of the live shells are of obsolete pattern and evidently have been fired many years ago. Apparently the warning has been taken to heart, but the municipal authorities view with alarm the prospect of the rubbish tin being made a suitable place for getting rid of dangerous things.