FATAL CAB EXPLOSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81852, 27 September 1906, Page 3

FATAL CAB EXPLOSION.

(Per Press Association.) N elson, September 26. An inquest was held to-day touching the death of William Vercoe, a corporation laborer, who died in consequenre of injuries sustained by a gas explosion st Symon's Memorial on the 28th July. The evidence showed that the memorial foontain and lamp was hollow, and provided a holder for gas which escaped from a defective joint. Foreman Kenning, deceased and another were working near the memorial, when they noticed a smell of gas, and the first two

proceeded to strike a mate' , but Kenning only had struck a n .tcli when the explosion followed. Foi witnesses deposed that they had noti. Ed a smell o£ escaping gas tuere for some weeks, and one said he was advised not to report the matter, but declined to say who advised him The Coroner said there was nothing to show that any responsible officer of the Council had been informed of the leakage, and the evidence showed that the oliicers had lot noticed a leak. The jury found that death resulted from the effects of an explosion, that no blame was attachable to any of the corporation employees, that everything possible was done in the best interest of deceased and other patients at the hospital, also that in the opinion of the jury, while it may have been impractical to periodically inspect gas pipes at the memorial,

it should be recommended that in future where there may be construction leading to gas storage, the system of pipes should be such as to admit of periodical inspection, and that all reported leakages be properly inspected and rectified; further that in the opinion of the jury if those who had observed the escape of gas had reported to a responsible official, the fatality | might not have occurred.