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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 13, 15 January 1875, Page 4

Electricial Phenomenon — Archdeacon Ptock encloses to the New Zealand Times the following account of a most curious electricial phenomenon witnessed on the West Coast •of tbe North Island by the Rev James M'William : — *' As I returned fom Foxton last Sunday night along the beach, I observed a small but den. Ely black cloud descending across my \ ath to the very earth. As soou as I iad ridden into it, as it. were, all at one. I noticed a bluish Same streaming from my beard. I rubbed it, thinking tor the moment that it was actually on fire, bjut of course felt no heat. I th&n noticed also that a similar flame shot up from each of my mare's ears, a nth streamed from her forelock, mane, and tail. • She was terrified, and shied, reared, wheeled, and did all she could to get away from the cause of her fear, but to no purpose. At last, seeing her efforts were vain, nnd feeling no hurt, ahe was induced to go on, the flame remaining as long as we were in the cloud, perhaps a quarter of an hour."

Fatal Kerosine Explosion.— A shocking affair happened at Sandridge on Monday night 21.st ult. in tbe explosion of a kerosene lamp, which resulted in the death of a mother and her child. It appears that Mrs Kate Morgan, wife of Mr R. R. Morgan, residing at Spring street, Sandridge, retired to bed with her youngest son, Frank Edward, a child 15 months old, and at about half-past 11 o'clock she was alarmed by the sudden explosion 1 of a kerosene lamp, which had been left burning on a table in the bedroom. Finding herself and the child surrounded by flames, which had ignited the bed clothes, Mrs Morgan screamed for aid. Mr Morgan, who was sleeping in an adjacent bedroom with some ottiers of his children, being aroused by tbe screams, hastened to ascertain the cause Upon reaching the door of the room in which his wife and child had been Bleepingi he met Mrs Morgan rushing out of tbe bedroom with tbe infant in her arms. Both mother and child were enveloped in flames. Mr Morgan instantly procured a bucket of water to quench the flame, but had to take the victims to the water-tap in the backyard .before he could succeed in doing so. Medical aid was procured with all possible despatch, but after lingering uhtil half-past four o'clock yesterday uioming the unfortunate child succumbed to the injuries he had received, and Mrs Morgan only survived her ihfanfc some 12 hours, having expired yesterday evening at about five o'clock. . News — possibly true, possibly false —comes at times from unexpected quarters. Thus we learn, from the Hawaiian Gazette, that Prince Leopold, the youngest son of the Qneen, is to study for tbe English bar. It is not improbable that the rumor is true. £rince Leopold is tbe only member of ' the Royal Family whose health has bien uot merely indifferent, but bad, and who has long been precluded by ill-health from takiug part in tbe amuseihents and pleasures fusual to young then of his age. He isf known to be of studious aud recluse habits, and it will be a fortunate thirjg fpr the nation if bis inclinations are [ found to turn towards the study of the law. l . ;■_/■■ - -7*