SHELLY BAY ACCIDENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2924, 11 April 1891, Page 2

SHELLY BAY ACCIDENT.

(ISY TKLKC.RA I'll — VKK-SS ASSOCIATION,) Wkm.im.i'on, Last Night. The case for the Cio.vn in tho Shelly l!.iy inquest closed this morning. Mr Jellicmi called Captain I Well, in charge of the torpedo station at Auckland, who deposed that solder was novur used fur primers, and was forbidden by the regulations. lie never allowed the men to take explosives where there was a lighted forge, lie stated positively that ho had received from Captain Falconer a copy of the liSSli circular, which the latter said he had never Reon or left with Captain Powell. Witness produced the service primers most in use, which were quite different to those used at Shellv Lay. Tho witness was subjected to a stiff cross-examination by Captain Falconer's counsel, and which is still going on. Cornwall will be examined on Monday. Later. Further evidence Mas given at the inquest on the victims of the Shelly Bay gun cotton explosion this afternoon. ("■iunnery Lieut. Trassure, of 11.M.5. Cuiacon, was called by Mr Ross, Silicitor, and in his evidence he said il would bo very unsafe lor anyone to solder a tin after it was charged with gun c.ntlen and he had uevet before heard of such a thing being done. He would not consider it safe to take a canister of dry cotton into the smithy, and such a proceeding would be highly dangerous, as the heat of the place might, be sullieient to cause an o.vplosion and il was sheer luck that there had not been previous accidents. Another adjournment waH made. Oapt. Castie, of If.M.S. liapid, and Lieut. White, of H.M.K. Urhmdo. who have been conducting the enquiry into the circumstances connected with the disastrous gun cotton explosion at .Shelly Lay, left for Auckland by the steamer Tarawera this illuming where their rop.wt will be drawn up.