STARTLING EXPLOSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13312, 14 June 1907, Page 5

STARTLING EXPLOSION.

A PLUMBER'INJURED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 13. 4 loud explosion in Wellesley street East just before 10 o'clock .this morning considerably startled the people in that vicinity. The sound of breaking _ glass dio\ved that tba incident occurred in V. and J. Miller's plumbing establishment opposite the Citv Council Giambis. «o loud was the noise that those in the Council offices ran out in haste to a-certain the cau=e The explanation was that a benzene -tank which had teen sent f«r repairs had exploded under somewhat singular circumstances. The tank had been placed on trestles and rested on its side, and the two taps were open as well as. a vent m one end. Mr T. Leaning started to dosome soldering to the other end (really the bottom), but had scarcely applied' tne Hint before ther.3 was a loud cxplcaon, vdricli .resulted in his being knocked over •ind bruissd, but fortunately not seriously ]v.ut. So violent was the. explosion thyt the. other end of the? tank wa.s blown cut, and ill- compressed air intk room escaped by bursting; the gbss at the top of the partition,, and also blowing out the upper window of the simp, in front. Mr T;F-mn-j -T-ns s"re that ther-3 was no bensine in the tank.