MARLBOROUGH MYSTERY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1940, Page 7

MARLBOROUGH MYSTERY

HEAVY EXPLOSION. VARIOUS THEORIES ADVANCED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, July 10. Mystery surrounds an exceptionally heavy explosion which was heard by residents in widely-scattered areas of the Seddon district shortly before 9 o’clock yesterday morning. Searching inquiries have been made, but so far the only definite thing that can be established is that an explosion did occur and that it was of extreme severity, so much so that it rattled windows in houses at Wairau Bar and Seddon, whieh are approximately 12 miles apart. Theories, both as to the direction and cause of the explosion, vary greatly. Most people in Seddon have the opinion that it was toward the sea, and this caused a thorough search to be made of the coastline from Lake Grassmere to the mouth of the Awatere River, but nothing which gave a hint as to what had happened was discovered. Residents in the Lake Grassmere area think the direction was inland toward Mount Tapuaenuku. It is known that an earthquake fault exists in the Awatere Valley, and many people consider that the explosion. which was followed by a long rumble as of a heavy fall of rock, must be concerned with this fault. Investigations are still proceeding.