AN EXPLOSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1576, 21 October 1912, Page 9

AN EXPLOSION.

AT WAKGANUI TRAMWAY POWER HOUSE. (By 'Teleeraph.—Special Correspondent) Wanganui, October 19. An unusual explosion, attended by somewhat serious consequences, occurred at tho' trnmwny power houso last night. Tho new suction gas engine installed in connection with the extended system had been running all tho afternoon and was working well, but about eight o'clock in the evening a small spring in tho engine carried away. This necessitated shutting down the engine for repairs and switching the producer gas supply over to the old engines. By some means, which arc- not yet understood, an explosion occurre'd during this process, a terrific report shaking tho whole premises. Tho fores of th(> explosion may be gauged by Iho fact that both ends of tho scrubber, or gas cleaner, large castings nine feet by six feet, and an inch through, were not only blown clean out, but split in pieces and hurled a , considerable distance. It will be about five weeks before the damage can be mado good, but as the maintenance period in connection ■with the new installation has not yet expired the loss will fall on the contractor instead of the Borough Council. It will, however, somewhat affect tho tramway servico, for though the ordinary servico can be maintained on the old portion of the powor plnnt it will not bo \>ossiblo to provido for the rush traffic of which at this tirno of the year there is a considerablo nmount.