INVERCARGILL FIRE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 16 June 1924, Page 9

INVERCARGILL FIRE.

NEW DANGER AT FORESHORE

By Telegraph—" Press AsuociatienINVERCARGILL, June 14

The fire, which destroyed the British Imperial Oil Company’s store in Bond Street has created a new danger at the waterfront. Six days from the time the fire commenced it was discovered that oil and benzine had found their way underground from the store floor to the foreshore, where it is oozing out of the ground below high water mark. Bubbling pools of oil arc clotted over a large area discernible at low tide, the fumes being very strong. Samples of oil and benzine were taken for the purpose of testing their inflammability, and when a match was applied a minor explosion took place. This discovery resulted in the authorities taking every precaution to prevent and trouble aecurring, more especially as a magazine, housing explosives, in in the vicinity. A constable has been placed on duty for the purpose of patrolling the area when the tide is out, and to issue a warning to the public to refrain from visiting the locality owing to the possibility of an explosion occurring if a naked light is exposed.