ROCK HURLED INTO AIR

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 6

ROCK HURLED INTO AIR

Gelignite Charge Blows Out

WORKMAN’S COTTAGE DEMOLISHED SHED COMPLETELY WRECKED (United Press Association.) Auckland. September 18. A small crowd of spectators at Smeeds’ quarry, on the edge of the Waikato River above Tuakau, which assembled to witness the firing of a two-ton charge of gelignite this afternoon, saw a far more spectacular sight than it expected. The charge “blew out” and, in addition to the fall of a large expanse of rock cliff a considerable quantity of rock was hurled through the air as if fired from a gigantic gun.

A three-roomed cottage, the home of one of the quarry workmen, which was situated about 200 yards from the cliff face, collapsed beneath a terrific bombardment of rock. The quarry workshops, standing a little further back, were damaged extensively, a shed in front being completely wrecked. A big building housing valuable crushing plant was pierced by falling rock, numerous gaping holes being torn in the roof and walls, which are of corrugated iron. A motor truck parked near the workshops suffered to such an extent that it looked as if someone had attempted to demolish it with a sledgehammer. Water spurted from a storwhich was so riddled with holes as to resemble a sieve.

Hens Killed. Luckilv, all those present were well away from the danger zone. A number of hens, which were scratching about in front of the cottage before the explosion, were not so fortunate. Out of 20, only two survived, many being completely buried, and the mangled remains of the others were strewn in all directions. The damage suffered by the company’s plant was not so great as at first appeared probable. A valuable electric motor was unharmed, and other machinery also escaped serious damage. The workman’s cottage, however, was reduced to matchwood, and furniture, crockery and clothing formed a tangled mass of the wreckage of the contents, which were not insured. Very little was salvaged in an unharmed condition.