SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

Dunstan Times, Issue 1037, 23 December 1881, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

[BY TELEGRAPH.] FROM,. OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. DUNEDIN,, Thursday. A serious gas explosion took place last evening .at Mr Spedding’s new buildings, Princes street South. A man struck a match for the purpose of" lighting the second floor, when, an explosion took place, knocking the man “down and giving- the building a severe shaking. No other damage was done. The escape is thought to be caused by rats gnawing through 4 pipes. Another explosion took place last evening at* Well hi gton where hy a Mrs Anthony Ins* her life. Mrs Anthony, wife of the tnan!i(;er’b£ Messrs B.vraiM, eh inists, wasjn the yard with a little boy 3 years old, »h<l-.injiiiiieionsly {touched sotpe blue-fire composition, wlieu it exploded, blowing off ••nth arms; just below the elbows, breaking her right leg and jaw, and fearfully cutting her face. . Me deal ai l was of no a v til. arid she died about 9 (i. m. The boy escaped with a few .slight bruises.

Another .serious fire, occurred at South Dunedin to-day, by which two hoitsts were destroyed. The occupants of one of them —Mr Mcßride, Mayor—narrowly escaped with their lives. Insurances amount to about LIOOO, but loss is stated to be over that sum.

A fatal accident occurred in the Waitaki on Tuesday, by which'a 5-ycar old daughter of Root Ferguson was drowned. A monster meeting under the auspices of the Otago Trades and Labor Council will be held in Piinces street to-morrow night to consider the runs question. Applica iin to purchase under agricultural lease was yesterday gran ed by the Luid Hoard to T. T. Pearce Lower-ilawea.

Two fresh cas l s of smal pox have broken out at Wooloomooloo. .

\ serious fire occurred at Brisbane on Tuesday, lesulting in the destructiou of social ituusis. .. .

It is, announced that the Victorian Goveniiiieiit has decline i to co-eperate with other Australian Colonies in measures now being taken to induce the Unite ! States Government to reduce the duty levied on wool from those Colonies.

Lihell-r has been-scratched for all Auckland .engagements. A brewer and two publicans have been fined at Patea for bleaches of'the Beer Duty Act.

At a public meeting yesterday at Christchurch, -it was resolved tp form it, Froz n Meal Co., with a capital of £2O,(ML ’ ■

A young man named Rlordan ii;ber ftll or jumped off the. Lyttelton train last night, and both legs were cat off'at the knees. It is doubtful if he will survive the accident. " ’’ ” -' J, ‘' v - ! -

Some person or persons on Tuesday night entered the Episcopalian Church, Naseby, and removed two candlesticks and a cross, and out up the altar cloth. There has been c iisideraMe talk in reference to the manner which service has lately been conducted, and it is bed, ved further innovations will take place at Christmas. The police are investigating the matter Accounts of the colliery exp’osicn at Wigan state that all the miners except 40 have been rescued.

A proclamation has been issued by the Irish Executive declaring the Ladies Land League an illeged organisation.

Intelligence i- to hand fn m Africa that a false prophet who had collected 2GnO Non e Fanatics in the Soudan has massacred 300 of Egyptian troops. Intelligence ha* been received regarding the Arctic exploring vessel Jeannette. The news is that she was crushed in the iee in June and abandoned, the i ffic.-rs and crew taking to the boa’s. One boat was rescued by natives on the Siberian const. Another reached the mouth of the Sena, its crew suffering fearfully. The other heat is missing, and it is feared that all on board have perished.