WARNING OF DANGER

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1935, Page 5

WARNING OF DANGER

GELIGNITE PLACED IN OVEN.

PROSECUTION AT FEILDING.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Feilding, Last Night.

The final episode of the Cowdrey case, which began with an explosion of gelignite which wrecked a house at Halcombe, occurred to-day, when Cowdrey was before the court on a charge of storing gelignite in his home without having a license to do so.

Sergeant Angland said the case had been brought as a warning. There had been two serious explosions in the Dominion recently. The practice of placing gelignite in an oven was due to ignorance, against which people should be cautioned. Cowdrey had suffered severely and the police would not press for a penalty. The magistrate, Mr. R. M. Watson, said he could hardly understand a man in his sober senses placing gelignite in an oven. He classed the case as one of gross negligence. He realised that the family had suffered and entered a conviction without costs.

As a result of the explosion the youngest child died. Settlers and residents subscribed and rebuilt the house, which the Womens Institute restocked with food and furniture.