Fatal Blasting Accident in Dunedin.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1834, 19 May 1886, Page 3

Fatal Blasting Accident in Dunedin.

ONE WOMAN KILLED AND SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED. Dunediu, May 17. A fatal accident occurred just about 5 o’clock this afternoon. The unemployed working in Dowliog-street (a cross street from Princess* street), have been firing blasts within the past few days. Just a little before ja blast was Ist ofl, and either through too much powder being used, or not sufficient blinding, or probably both, the stones, some ef them of very large size, were burled some distance away. Home fell in Princess-street, which is usually crowded at the time, and an expressman is said to have ins thigh fractured A number fell on the roofs of shops in Princes-street, and one large one. which came crashing through the roof of the Londcn Photographic Rooms, crushed, and instantly killed Mrs Finch, sister of the wife of the proprietor, Mrs Irvine. Mrs Irvine herself who Vas sitting working at the same table had her skull fractured, and her recovery is doubtful. Two other ladies sitting in the room received slight injuries. As the blast took place in a deep cutting of about So feet, •■d the stones must have passed over the intervening bouses, the force of the explosion may be judged, especially when it is slated that the London Photographic rooms are fully 130 yards distant from where the blast took place. Showers of s oncs fell on the houses in the vicinity, and some penctrated through other roofs, while a chimney •fone was wrecked. Tne facines used for blinding were found about So yards away Blasting operations are said to have been in charge of one of the unemployed, who received an extra 6d per day.