EXPLOSION IN STREET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 80, 28 December 1937, Page 7

EXPLOSION IN STREET

Our Own Correspondent.)

Flying Mass of Rock SYDNEY CROWD ESCAPES

(From

SYDNEY, Dec. 17. About a ton of rock one piece weighing several hundredweights, was hurled from an excavation into the middle of York street, Sydney, the other day. No one was hit by the flying rock, although, less than 50 yards away, a large crowd was gathered outside the Lottery Office. Five workmen unsuccessfully attempted to roll the largest piece of rock back to the excavation. They were obliged to split it to remove it. The excavation was on the site of the new Amalgamated Wireless of Australia building. A shattering biase was followed by a crash as a huge block of stone flew into the air, smashed through a stout fence on the footpath alignment, and hurled into the middle of the street. The workmen were standing well clear when the explosion occurred. A crowd of nearly 1000 quickly gathered. "I was sitting in my office on the first floor, which is nearest to where the explosion occurred," said Mr Charles Ludowici, managing director of a firm which oceupies premises next to the excavated site. "The noise was shattering, and I looked up, expecting the roof to collapse on me. When nothing happened, I ran to the window, and saw the debris lying in the street." An officer of the City Council Health Department said that blasting was prohibited in the city. Under new regulation, not yet ratified, blasting would be allowed under permit from the city engineer. To prosecute was difficult, as it was necessary to catch the offender in the act. "Most contractors and builders find it cheaper to pay the fines than to excavate by other methods," he added.