WELLINGTON SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1927, Page 3

WELLINGTON SENSATION

EXPLOSIONS IN OR AH'

(By Telegraph—l'er Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Juiy 0. There was an explosion in the old wooden portion of the Parliamentary Buildings which alarmed the people ~f the neighbourhood this morning. It occurred in the grate ot one of Hie Ministerial offices. Apparently it was due to an uuexploded blasting e.large in a lump of coal. Thi* *»r;»to was (U*sii'oy<-<i. HiuniiM-C and smoking coal and lumps of nr. la were thrown about, damaging the fuiiiit ure and .smashing a windo-v. A tvpir-t was the only |c:suu in the mi.' She had her legs slightly hurt, and siill’ered Iron) shock. WELLINGTON, -lul.v Kb Yesterday morning's startling incident: in the Ministerial Office in Parliament Buildings, when an explosion in a grate upset the furniture and the typiste, who happened to he the sole occupant of the room, was repeated this afternoon in a private hornthe great consternation ot the occupants.

A lire of small coal was burning in (lie grate of the dining-room ot the house occupied by Mr V. Parke, ot Kilburnic, wlien the quiet peace of the moment was broken by a violent explosion. Bits ot burning coal flew in all directions. The riirni was filled instantly with a cloud of acrid smoko and soot. A little girl was the only one in occupation of the room at the time, and she screamed in terror, but, fortunately, she was on a sola at the side of the room, and did not receive the full force of the explosion, and, as in her fright .she buried her head “ the cushion, she escaped injury. Her mother rushed from the next ro in and, groping her way through the smoke, she picked the child up and carried her out. Mr Parke by this time bad reached the scene, and steps were taken to gather up Hie burning conkers and clear the place of smoke. The waits showed signs of couiaet with the burning coal-, and the carpet .suffered to some extent. Presumably the explosion was due to a detonator that bad remained luioxploded during the blasting operations in tbe mine. It was a terrifying experience for the household. which includes an elderly invalid in a nearby room, and the family acre very fortunate that the results were no worse.