OHAKUNE EXPLOSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1916, Page 4

OHAKUNE EXPLOSION.

THE, INQUEST RESUMED. By Telegraph.-Press Association. _,, . Ohakune, June 22. The inquest on the Ohakune explosion was resumed tojay before the coroner (Mr. Aldridge) and a jury of six. Mr. McCassey represented the Public Works, and Mr. Harris the relatives of deceased. Dr. MaeLaurin gave evidence that he investigated the quarry and found the samples of explosives in perfect order. He was not sure the accident was not due to defective explosions. Witness explained the way the wiring of explosives was carried out in tunm-i 2. The ends of the wires led from the explosive along the roof of the tunnel and hung down near the mouth ready for testing and joining up with similar wiring in tunnels 1 and 3, preparatory to all being tired simultaneously. ] n his opinion the explosion was due to a misadventure in testing the wires. The custom was to test the wires with a •-'"..inmotcr. and lie thought the test had been carried out, because a portion ci. Hie galvanometer was found near the tunnel. A galvanometer was produced and its working explained. The portion found was similar to the Xobel galvanometer which was produced. The current generated 'was .05 amperes. To lire a detonator .6 amperes was necessary. The two red seal drv batteries produced were found and might have been used. He could not think they had any other use .-;■ the quarry. Some galvanometers would not produce a current, and red seal cells could bo used, providing the current passed through the galvanometer, but a grave danger arose, because it was easy inadvertently to touch the wires together instead of touching the galvanometer poles. He wanted to emphasise this. He was satisfied the explosives were not. decomposed. There was no evidence that the cells were used, but he assumed so. Robert Holmes. Engineer for Public Works, gave evidence that the minefields used by the military for defence were tested daily by cells* coupled with a galvanometer. Witness agreed to the possibility of Dr. MaeLaurin's theorv. It would not be wrong to use the cells for testing with a galvanometer of sufficient resistance. Nobel's possessed sufficient, lie knew this was so, because he and Dr. MaeLaurin had proved it by experiment. Considering the nearness of the poles on Nobel's galvanometer it was risky to use outside. The appearance of the red seal cell* was such as indicated that they had been subjected to the force of compressed air caused by an explosion.

Michael Sheedy, recalled, pave evidence that he had seen cells similar to those produced on the staging between the tunnels. Mellsop was using them with the galvanometer before the charge was put in tunnel 3. He did not see tiio cells on the day of the explosion

HEDUCKD TO ASHES. THE JURY'S~FIXDr.\G Oliakune. Last N T i?ht,' Alfred James Baker, Resident Public Works Kngincer for Taumnriiiini district, said he was satisfied that Mcllsoo had a fair knowledge of cleetricitv. The question of filing explosives by dectricity had been discussed with Mellsop, and witness arranged for two detonators and a safety fuse for each charge, so that testing was not necessary. Witness did not give orders that testing should not be done but the conversation was to the effect that further pre. cautions were not essential. He had no reason to doubt that Mellsop had sufficient knowledge to carry out operations. He would not test while men were near the charge. The usual procedure was for all the men to remove to a safe position. He understood that the assistant engineer had received from the post office some stock that had been written off as unserviceable, hut was probably retained as being of sufficient strength to test the wiring through the galvanometer. Replying to the Coroner's query. m». Leggo, N'obel's representative, stated he had no doubt that Ton-ens was blown to ashes.

The verdict of the jury was: ''We are.. agreed that G. FT. Mell/op, A. Dlvi*, H. Larking, W. McCord, and :P. McGnrrv met their deaths at the Ohakune public, works quanry, as a result of a concussion caused by the premature explosion of a charge consisting' of dynamite, cambritp, and gelignite, which lindheen placed in No. 8 tunnel in the quarry. The jury are further agreed that, froin the evidence adduced, there is no doubt that Torrens was in the tunnel at the time of the explosion and was reduced to ashes."