SERIOUS GAS EXPLOSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3770, 10 September 1907, Page 3

SERIOUS GAS EXPLOSION.

Auckland, September 7. An escape of gas in the basement of the Auckland Post Office led to an explosion which considerably damaged the building and slightly injured four employees. The room in which the explosion occurred was wrecked, and the floor above shaken so violently that many employees were shaken off their seats. Many windows were smashed and doors twisted off their hinges by the force of the explosion. A small staircase was smashed, and a portion of a brick wall in the basement was shaken down, wall was cracked. Fortunately the wreckage did not take fire, and the damage was confined to that by the explosion. The telegraph and telephone circuits remained uninjured. The explosion at the post office was due to an escape of gas either through the broken pipe or a turned tap in the strong room. This room was full of gas when the door was opened and the gas rushing out came into contact with the naked light in the adjacent store room. J. Bond who opened the strong room, was hurled back and burned by the exploding gas. He was the greatest sufferer, W. Worsfield, who was working under the light, with which the gas came into contact, was also injured. Two clerks on the floor above were injured. These four were conveyed to a chemist’s shop and promptly attended to by a doctor. Bond was badly burned on the face and his arms were much shaken. F. Bush sustained a fractured nose and a small scalp wound, Worsfield was injured about the head, McCollough injured on the arm and considerably shaken. Later.

Men were at once put to work to remove the debris and reduce the chaos to something like order again. A great deal has yet to be done, but although there was naturally a great deal of excitement throughout the building, there was no confusion and the important work of the department went on again within a few minutes of the accident.

Mr F. D. Holdsworth, Chief Postmaster, estimates that the damage will run into some hundreds of ' pounds. The work of the office will be' partially disorganised for several days in consequence.