ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 294, 23 December 1879, Page 2

ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

The Irish arrests continue the leading topic of interest. The Times thinks there is eTery reason to believe that this timely display of firmness will extinguish the rent agitation. The Times correspondent reports from Glasgow intense excitement among the Home Rulers. From Liverpool it is announced that great interest is taken in the subject, but there is no excitement. From Limerick considerable dismay and concern are reported. From Dublin one report says

that the excitement was only equalled by that which prevailed during the Fenian rising, while another report says that the arrests have excited but little interest. The Daily News thinks Mr Parnell responsible for the present condition of affairs, but doubts the prudence of the measures taken. It insists that the only effectual way to quiet the Irish agitation is to concede large measures of reform, such as the utmost practical local self Government to Iriah towns, counties, and provinces, while still maintaining legislative union between the two countries. Mr Parnell accused the Government of entrapping Irishmen by means of paid spies. He advised Irishmen to be calm, because if they attempted to emulate the Government in all their illegal action by violence or disorder, they then would be doing just what the butchers and destroyers of the poor Afghans and Zulus desire them to do. He said no earthly power could ever succeed against the united and determined efforts of Irishmen. Owing to the constant wet weatker, the English hop crop this year proves to be almost a complete failure. Lord Beaconsfield, in his speech at the Mausiou House, said the aspect of affairs was much more satisfactory than when he lastspoke. An amount of business was now being done, which thr«?e months ago would have beeu deemed impossible The only question now was whether the revival in trade was only temporary or permanent. The opinion of the Government was that the revival was of a permanent and lasting character. The iron industry had, doubtless, in a great measure revived, owing to the demands from the United States, but the returns proved that purchases of iron were not limited to the United States or various Europeau countries, but were occasioned by the miscellaneous demands of other native industries. Every article of tropical produce had risen in value. The chemical trade, which was a great index of prosperity, had been unable to execute its orders. During a period of unprecedented depression in the country, there had not been a single meeting to express discontent with the national institutions of Great Britain. He wished our brilliant brethren in Ireland would be a little more emulous of this example. He was at a loss to comprehend how the Irish people had brought themselves to believe that the best remedy for economical distress was political agitation and serious confusion. (Loud laughter and cheers.) Doubtless, there were portions of Ireland where there would be considerable suffering if a remedy was not offered. The Iriih people should remember that they had never yet appealed to English sympathy in vain. It would be the duty of Ministers to watch the condition of Ireland with the anxiety required by the situation. The Irish people should condescend to remember that they were much more dependent on their harvest than are English people on theirs. Still, it was much better than the harvest of England. A terrible explosion of petroleum occurred in a tunnel near 'Frisco. There was great loss of life, and a large number were badly wounded. Afthe first explosion some Chinamen outside the tunnel who ran to the rescue of their comrades, literally rushed to their death. They had run in 500 yards when a second double report was heard, followed by a fearful sheet of flame and a rush of air, which crushed the engine house, demolished a blacksmith's shop, blowing the former into the air, and shooting one man 60ft from the mouth of the tunnel, bruising him fearfully. The foreman of the gang and the driver of the mule used in ihe cart into which rock was dumped, made their appearance at the mouth oi the tunnel with closed eyes, badly hurt, and were carried to their cabins. Ah Won was in such agony and so fearfully burnt that his friends strangled him at his own request. The flesh of those taken out was swollen until the skin cracked, and portions of the faces, necks, and bodies were almost entirely denuded of cuticle In tome cases the flesh on the heads was actually roasted until the skull glistened through. In other instances the skin hung from their faces and hands in curled shreds. The scene in the cabins wag horrible, the odour repulsive. The rescuers could only penetrate 1500 feet into the tunnel, and all the men further in must have been suffocated. The torches which they carried in after the first explosion doubtless caused the second one. They were not within 1200 feet of their friend's when it occurred. The misery of the wounded caused them to beg their friends to kill them, and their shrieks were heartrending.