1934-06-16 — Page 7

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VOLUNTEER PRIZE GIVING

ENJOYABLE EVENING SPENT AT HEADQUARTERS

Appeal For More Recruits

A very enjoyable evening was spent at Volunteer Headquar ters last night when at a dinner and concert, the prizes won. during the year were distributed by His Excellency, Major General 0. C. Barrett.

Over two hundred persons were present and the concert provided was of a very high order, the "Aloha Serenaders being particularly well received. The Dance Band of the 24th Regiment. of the South Wales Borderers provided excellent fare, while in- dividual contributors reached a high standard.

The activities of the Corps "during the year were recounted by the Commandant, Col. H. B. L." Dowbiggin, who presided over the gathering.

Efficiency Cup For The Troop

to the Troop who only exceeded the Engineers by point one (1) in

their average,

ال

In addition to the General and, ners all having certain claims to Col. Dowbiggin, there were present this honour. It has been awarded "The Hon. Sir Thomas Southorn, Major E. J. R. Mitchell, Lord Malcolm Douglas Hamilton, Col, F. P. Nosworthy, Col. M. Carrington Sykes, Col. H. M. Fordham, L.- Com. Skyrme, R.N., Major P. Gott waltz, Capt. B. J. F. Popham, Capt. H. Marshall, Capt. P. 8. M. Wu- kinson, Capt. MacGowan, and Lt. J. P. Williams.

COL. DOWBIGGIN Col. Dowbiggin in his speech, sald:-

With these few remarks I will ask H.E the General to kindly pre- sent the awards with the exception of the Machine Gun Cup, which will be adjudicated after the firing of the third stage of the Competi- tion on Sunday, June 24.

General's Speech

Major General Borṛett, addres- sing the gathering said: It is a great pleasure to me to be, with you here this evening, and I feel it an honour to have been asked to give away the prizes for you

It is always a pleasure to wel- come your Excellency and other friends of this Corps to any of our functions but to-night there is an added, pleasure to me in that IRifle Meeting preside for the first time as sub- stantive commandant of the Corps On behalf of the Corps, I beg to express our appreciation of your presence here to-night as a fur- ther proof of your interest in cur activities I would also assure you all that we would welcome your presence here on any evening you happen to be passing or can spare the time to look in on us--it would be a great encouragement to us of a high standard, and the Eng-

I much regret that I missed the Meeting this year owing to absence from the Colony, but I am assur- a great success. ed that it was Last year I was fortunate enough to be present and was much struck with the good marksmanship. keeness and friendly rivalry among the various individuals and teams. This year I see from the re- cords that the shooting was again

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1934.

Expert Evidence About Gasometer

MR. W. A BUTTERFIELD IN WITNESS-BOX

Bedford Road Explosion Recalled

Expert evidence in regard to the gasometer at West Point in connection with the tragic qua explosion disaster on May 14, was given by Mr. W. A, Butterfeld, chief engineer of the Asia- tic Petroleum Co., (S.C.), Ltd, at Central Magistracy yesterday when the enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the catas- trophe was continued:

Mr. H. E. Stone, the general manager and chief engineer of the Hongkong and China Gas Company, Ltd., the owners of the holder, in reply to a question by Mr. W. M. Brown, solicitor for certain property owners whose property was damaged by the dis- aster, said that he was definitely of the opinion that Chung Shing Street caught fire before the gasometer,

Mr. E. W. Hamilton, senior magistrate, conducted the en- quiry, assisted byɛɛa jury comprising Messrs. P. Tester foreman), L. Dunbar and D. Drummond.

Mr. W. A. Mackinlay, of Messrs. Deacons, represented the Hongkong and China Gas Co., Ltd., and Mr. W. M' Brown, of Messrs. Hastings and Co. watched the proceedings on behalf of certain property owners whose property was damaged by the dis." aster.

No Gasworks Regulations

Mr. H. E. Stone, the general; manager and chief engineer of the Hongkong and Chipa Gas Co., Ltd. who had concluded his evidence in chief at the previous hearing, on being asked by the Coroner, said that the, gas explosion at Bedford Road, Manchester in 1927, was 'as- sumed to be due to corrosion in

frame. The holder the

was 46 it had and therefore years old become weak' to a considerable ex- tent by internal corrosion...

Coroner: Are you in a position to say that the internal corrosion there was similar to the internal corrosion in the West Point dis ester 7--

Mr. Stone: I cannot say

Is it quite reasonably easy to make an internal examination by using a steam hose and ventilat- ing fans?It is very difficult for gas in the water. You will have to take the water out as well. It is expensive..

Are you prepared to say. that the plates were in a dreadful con- dition? No. I have seen hoiders in a worse condition..

When you found these things, did you make any report to the Police?-No.

You still adhere that there was no explosion in the watchmen's hut? With all my experience in coal tar gas explosions I do not consider there was any explosion in the but, as the results would have been different. I do not think that the paint inside the hut would have been scorched by the flames.

Have you had any correspon- dence with the bead once as to the renewal of this holder?-No. Not before the explosion:

Your head office always backed you up in your auggestions or re- commendations On engineering matter, yes. It always takes full notice of any recommendation for renewal of plant or manufacture of plant or expenditure of money. Nothing has ever been refused.

Mr. Mackinlay. Yesterday you told us that in England you gen- erally have a street between the wall of the gasworks and the houses, can you say whether that is due to public health regulations or town planning?--May be, I am

effect. is no gasworks regulations to that

"and often a few words of conver-ineer Company deserves the great the gasometer that were patched not certain about that. But there

ant's Cup.

Command-

est praise for carrying of the. sation is more helpful than pages Blake: Shield with a record score of correspondence. We do appro1 260, and for also winning the clate the interest shown in ua and the help given us by many officers Francis Cup and the of the staf and H.M.'s Army, and here I think I may add, without being inviduous, our especial thanks to the South Wales Bor- derers' for Assistance.

their ever ready

The Corps Individual Champion- ship was won by Sergeant Cruz and I see Pipe-Major Mackie adds shooting to his other accomplish- ments.

tion.

We all much regret the prema- It is usual for the Commandant ture death of Private Rocha, the on this occasion to give a resume winner of the Musketry Competi- of the Corps' activities during the past season. This evening I will spare you a long speech as I only assumed Command so recently, and I am sure you are all eagerly waiting to hear what HE the G.O.C. has to say.

We miss Colonel Bird who devot- ed fourteen years of his spare time without stint to this Corps and wish him many years of health and happiness. (Applause.)

Numbers

Our number has decreased very considerably and this is a cause of great concern to us. There are undoubtedly many who are not in

Corporal Lockhart of the Eng- ineer Company put up a very fine score in winning the Revolver Competition with 29 points out of 30.

I am very glad to see how well the Portuguese Company have

In reply to further questions, Mr. Stone said that the holes of

took place unevenly for if one up were due to corrosion which

plate was Corrosive the other might not show signs of corrosion for years. A general inspection had been held about six weeks ago.

detailed inspection was made That was only about painting. A

about 12 or 18 months ago.

You do not suggest that the bulbs and things found in the tank probably dropped down between came through the holders? They

the holder and the tank

!

Practice In England.

Mr. Mackinlay (to the Coroner): mentioned that point, your Wor- ship, because I know of one gas- works with similar surroundings as the one in West Point,

Mr. Mackinlay (to Mr. Stone): How often is it a practice to paint gas holders in England?-Not more than once every two years in my experience.

|

of a gasometer according to the heat and cold of the climate?- Not to my experience.

An Exceptional Quantity

Is the corrosive action of gas vary according to the gas used?---

No.

•

Have you got the plece of fron pipe here which is found in the gasometer?—No. It was about two feet long.

Do you think it possible for someone to throw it up to the holder? I think it is quite possible that it might have been dropped by some of our workmen. Do you think it quite possible for someone to throw things on to the top Df the gasometer from Chung Shing Street' and Clarence Terrace?—Yes.

You are definitely of the opinion tha Chung Shing Street caught fire before the gasometer?--Yes.

If Chung Shing Street was on fire, it would be quite improbable that someone would be able to thrown things to the gäsometer from there?-Something may have hit the holder at the same time.

Is it just possible that objects ejected from Chung Shing Street may have struck the gasometer?- Yes y

Coroner: What is all this cor- rosive matter taken out of the

tank?

Mr Stone: Deposits during the last twenty years. An exceptional quantity.

Expert Evidence.

Mr. W. "A Butterfeld, chief en- gineer of the Asistle Petroleum Co. (8.C.), Ltd., then gave expert evidence. He said that he ex-. amined the holder on the request of the Government. He bad no experience in gas holders but had very considerable knowledge of were constructed tanks, which

the same way as the much "in' gasometer, but the latter were much stronger as they contained gas. His report dealt with the ma- terial from the gasometer and not with the origin of the fire.

Mr. Butterfield then gave a

technical description of the con-

struction of the gasometer.

He and

examined 17 plates in all found many of these were wasted by corrosion, particularly in the way of plate landing. At this position the plates were in many places of only paper thickness and

An some instances through cracks were obtained. Three of the plates examined showed a number of small perforated holes caused by corrosion through which" daylight could be seen. He thought there was the possibility that the holes were sealed with corrosion and with the shock of an explosion. rust would be shaken away and gas But he escaped from there. thought it probable that they were sealed with corrosion prior to the accident. The casual ob- server, looking at the tank would think it in good order as it was well painted. If he were asked to examine a holder he would use a test hammer to ascertain the con- ditions of the plates.

Coroner: If it were your job to The pressure gauges were watch-examine this tank and you know Is it possible that. anyone

ed by the attendant on duty, were its condition that it had previous throwing a thing hard enough will they watched by anybody else? perforations and also its age, what would you do? If I knew perforate the holder?—Yes.

the conditions and that I had put patches on it, I would have it put out of action as quickly as possi- ble.

Commandant's Cup for Mus-

done in the Individual Shooting asketry: Engineer Company. 1 hear rumours that they are ra ther hurt at not being given Ma"

'chine Guns.

Although the Corps is not strong enough to man all the guns we want them to, it would be a fatal mistake to allow the Infantry to disappear. Guns, Machine Guns

Yes. The Chinese foreman and the superintendent of works. At least every hour.

What pressure of gas have you to put on to cause it to blow out of the water seal?-About 88 of a

•

Francis Cup: Engineer Com- pany: C.Q.M.S. Salter, Cpl Lock-pound as per sq. inch. hart, L/Cpl. Saltet, Spr. Smith-

When you get a leak which is Blake Shield:-Engineer Com-produced by corrosion, what type pany: CQMB. Balter, Cpl. Lock-of leak is it? Usually a small hart. L/Cpl. Salter, Bpr. Smith crack.

Attack Competition:--No,

10

In your opinion, if you get a Platoon: Lt. Silva, Sgt. Baleros, leak like that, would the volume

Silva (leader)."

Cause of Failure.

Dealing with the cause of the failure of the plates, Mr. Butter- feld said that it was particularly due to the rivets pulling through owing to the insumcient size of the rivet heads and for the wastage of rivet heads. He could not trace

having been sheared.

ine Corps who ought to be; on the and. Infantry are. all of vital and . Opl. Nunes, Pte. G. Pinna, Fte. C. of gas escape be suficient to reach any of the rivets or rivet heads.

equal

other hand there is no doubt that arms have reduced their staff and there is not the total numbers to choose from. I would welcome any suggestions

and assistance that may be forthcoming in this connection.

importance and our organi Bation must contain the various

arms in correct proportion.

This Rifle Meeting has answered the purpose for which all ride meetings, from Bisley down to the smallest, are held, namely, to en- courage the men to train them- Men are particularly requested selves to use their arms with speed at this juncture for the Battery and accuracy and to have con- and Machine Gun Battalion tondence in their weapons enable us to carry out the require- Just one word about recruiting. ments as laid down in the Defence Scheme and I would ask you all to make an especial effort to re- -crult men for these units in the first instance, and later tackle the

others.

Corps Championship:-L/Sergt. Cruz (No. 9 Platoon); Pipe-Mafor Mackie (Scottish Company), Lieut. silva (No. 10 Platoon).

Officers' Prize:-Lt. Silva. Tyro Competition: L/Cpl. Nunes (No. 10 Platoon).

Reserve Company Cup:-Lt. Strellett.

Chung Shing Street and get blown back before it dissipated? No. If you get a corrosion pure and sim- ple, the volume of gas is so small that it cannot be blown back against the wind

In answer to the Coroner, Mr. Stone said that the gas holder wae made to withstand wind pressure.

And the fact that you have had in the past, corrosion leaks, which did not result in any fire, it would seem to support that theory-Yes. Musketry Competition: Pte. Ro In your experience as a practical cha (No. 10 Platoon), Cpl. Lock- gas engineer have you ever seen or We have, I regret to say, dropped hart (Engineer Company), Lt. heard of a leak due to corrosion nearly 100 in the last year, and it Siva (No. 10 Platoon).

which had been of sumclent size is no good pretending that it.le not Revolver Competition: Cpl. to allow a volume of gas escaped, a very serious matter. You mem-"Lockhart (Engineer Company), to be blown to Chung Shing Street, era of the Corps can talk on the Pipe-Major Mackie (Scottish Com- ignited there and blown back

again? No. subject with much more influence' bany), It is gratifying to find at the than I can, for you give your time Annual Efficiency Board held TB- and energy to the service of your cently that although our members Country whereas I am paid for it. are down, the numbers at 1-I therefore beg of you all to do efficients were comparatively few, your utmost to get your friends to showing that such as we have got join up and so remove this-re- are keener than in the past.

proach from the Colony. There are ample people in the Colony for each member of the Corps to rescue one each, for at any rate one evening a week, from the tolls Colony of cinemas, bathing, golf and other pursults of less importance than The awarding of the Eticiency Defence. (Applauses Cup this year has been no easy lig Prize Winniere Da

Engineers, matter The Troop,

Näthan ¡Cup: “for-Eiścien Bignals and Motor Machine Gun-Machine-Gun Troop,

The units of the Corps having each, been allotted definite roles in the Defence Scheme should tend to make the training more in- teresting and thus encourage reenness

Wilson Cup: No. 1 Coy's Com- mander's Prize-Opl, Tetley,

Hong Cup: Dodwell's (LE Súva CQMS. Salter, L/Cpl. Balter and L/Cpl. Smith).

Engineer Coy's Efficiency Shield: Sapper Wilson

Special

tation Sergt. Major Jenkin of the Anzac Company, who is leaving the

was presented with a cigarette case by the Como making the presentation, to him, Mal General Borrett Congratulat ed Jenkla on hi 21 years with the Bouth Wales Borderers and 3 years Will the Volunteers.".

Mr. Brown: Is the plate in the gasometer the same sort as is used in England?

Coroner The plates fell off the gasometer without any other cause? Oh no. They fell off be- cause they failed to resist same unusual shock which caused them to be displaced.

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Do you consider they were good condition or not? They were in very bad condition.

* The enquiry was then adjourned until Monday afternoon when Mr. Butterfield will continue his evi- dence "

NOTICE TO MARINEKS

Derelict Junk Dangerous To Navigation

The Harbour Master has issued a notice to mariners to the effect that the master of the British steamer Tal Yuan had reported having sighted a submerged Junk to this while he was on his voyage.t port,

Mr. Blane: Yes. But the plate is not stronger than the structure which is used to protect strong wind from outside, N

How often has the holder been The Doaltion of the derelet painted? The last occasion was which is considered to be a yar in 1933 and previous to that it was to navigation given in Latitude on May, 1982. It is painted about 22 degrees 58 seconds Norin and Longitude 116 degr 34 seconds every year.

Is there any different in the fire East.

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