SENSATION AT AWAKINO.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1919, Page 8

SENSATION AT AWAKINO.

MINE EXPLODES ON BEACH. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE. Some of th? residents of the Awakino district had u somewhat unenviable experience on Friday night last. About 10 o'clock a terriiie explosion was heard iu the direction of the sea beach, a little north of the Awakino Kiver. The explosion v/as ibelieved to be the result of a German mine which had evidently drifted inshore and struck a rocky reef which runs along that part of' the coast. The main force of the concussion appeared to have struck the liometaead at the Koi (Station (owned by Mr. A. W- Budge, of Stratford), in which, at the time, were the manager (Mr. G. H. Dixon), his wife, and Misa Waring, a sister of Mrs- Dixon, The household had just retired for the night when the explosion took placs, severely shaking the house and breaking a good deal of glass, hesides unfastening doors and Windows. The force of the explosion was sufficient to tear off the lead heads of some of the nails in the roofing iron on the house.

Evidence suggesting that it was a ilaval mine which exploded lias l>een found in the large numbers of-pieces'of jagged metal scattered about the Js>cality. One piece about 30 inches long bq 6 inches, picked up beyond tha liouaft was ibrought into the New Plymouth Police Station yesterday by Constable McGregor, of Mokau. These are very similar to the pieces of the minS which were secured at Rahotu recently, when a German mine, which came ashore tnere, was destroyed by niiyal authorities.

It is believed that tiio spot where the mine exploded is about 500 yards'from Mr. Dixon's houw, the inmates of which, as well aa those of an adjacent whare, were considerably dazed by the shock. It is Stated that a window was 'broken ifl Mr. Howard's house, which is about ona mile and a-half further north, and that the noise o£ the explosion was heard some five miles furthe.? away. • It is fortunate that the mine drifted in when the tide was low. Had it been high tide, the explosion would hare taken place much closer to the home* stead, with probably disastrous results. Two sons and a daughter of Mr. W, J. ft. Avery, storekeeper, of Awakino, who passed along tho coast a few minutes before the explosion occurred, stated that they had just crossed the river when thej eaw a flash of flame, which was followed immediately by the of an explosion. Othar residents were considerably jiartlod, sr.d not a little luystied, at what they he»r<\ and at the shaking -and rattling of their residences.

Th® matter reported to the Collector of CusLoma at Mew Plymoatli (Mr. R. B. D- Ewe), who forwarded the information to the Naval Adviser. Mr. Eyre is endeavoring to secure one of U'e large pieces of found on shore, evidence for the naval authorities.