OHAKUNE EXPLOSION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2797, 15 June 1916, Page 6

OHAKUNE EXPLOSION

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. ' By Telegraph— Pn.->.s Assneij lion. Ohakiine, June 14. The adjourned inquest concerning tha Ohaknne explosion was held in the Courthouse to-day. Michacl Sheedy, quarry manager, deposed that ho was employed in No. 2. 'tunnel, nest the one where the explosion took place. He was fixing the lamps, and went into No. 3 tunnel and lit a candle. He was met by a flash of fire and was badly burned. He-came down the ropes and went to the engine-shed, whence he was removed to the railway station. A doctor, attended him- and 6ent him to the Taihape Hospital. Ho was in No. 3 tunnel at 9 o'clock ire the morning, and everything appeared satisfactory. He could give no reason for the explosion. He had drawn ilelsop's attention to naked' lights being used, and | received a reply to the effect that he had ordered lamps, but none came, and candles were still used. He was afraid that a light might be dropped negligently and set fire to a charge. This was before the earth and concrete would be put in. No smell of gas-was noticeable. If the light fell on a cartridge it would simply burn. He saw no carelessness in the handling of the exDlosives. Some of the men said they disliked explosives being stored in the en-gine-shed. This was done to I thaw them before putting them in the tunnel. He was positive cambrite was used. George Morgan gave evidence that he was working at the staging' opposite tunnel No. 2. He had wheeled concrete into both the tunnels during the rnorn'ing, and saw no carelessness. He was outside, between the ..two tunnels, when the explosion occurred, and he was knocked down by loose stones. He crawled to No. 2 tunnel. Sheedy came up to the staging. Both entered tunnel No. 3, and were met by a rush of fire, and both were badly burned. He went to the ; engine-shed and was removed to his home. He ha<l heard Sheedy object to smoking in the tunnel.. Torrens was in the.; tunnel .at "the time of the explosion. • ; ■ . The inquest was adjourned till June 23.. No trace of the body of Torrens has been found. ' • *