BIG BLAST

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1931, Page 2

BIG BLAST

IN OTAGO HARBOUR

(Jhj Telegraph—Per Press Association)

DUNEDIN, May 23

The discharge of over 20001bs of explosives this afternoon effectively removed one of the few remaining obstructions to shipping in Otago Harbour. The charge, which was distributed over an area of approximately 3800 square feet of rock in the channel between Goat Island and Quarantine Island, was so arranged that at low water, there would be a minimum hUptlf of 30 feet at low water across the channel, which, at its greatest depth, is oyer 100 feet. The contractor (Mr F. Goodman) commenced his work on. September 9 last year, and under the terms of his contract, was required to finish the work in a year, but such was tTie expedition with which the work was carried out that the last charge in 72 drilled holes i n shelf of rock was tamped in yesterday afternoon. The charges were so placed that their simultaneous explosion would brak the whole of the shelf into small fragments, and it was quite obvious, from the small amount of upwards thrust from the discharge, that the aim of the contractor had been realised. Immediately after the explosion, the main channel was trawled in order to ascertain that no portion of tlm shelf of rock had caused any obstruction in th e deeper wat-r. the. investigation proving that the blast bad been a complete success.