EXCITING SCENE IN THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT. Danger From the Electric Light Wire.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 2

EXCITING SCENE IN THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT. Danger From the Electric Light Wire.

A most exciting scene of disorder occurred in Parliament House lately, precipitately closing the sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Shortly after tea, the Lower House had gone into committee upon the Opium Bill, when fire was discovered afc the back of the Opposition benches, just behind Mr Hulme-Black, the member for Mackay, A wire connecting with the electric lighting apparatus cf the Chamber had fused by friction with another wire, and had ignited the tar and the coating formed of gutta percha around and insulating the wire. This quickly emitted a strong smell, and a dense black Bmoke issuing up the wall of the Chamber, attracted the attention of Mr Black and a passenger, who instantly raised an alarm of fire. Upon the smouldering tiro boing observed, the house was thrown into consternation, and the members rising from their seats rushed ftcro<-8 to ascertain the cause of the outbreak. Meanwhile the smell of something burning beneath the benches, and thestifling; sensation alarmed the assembly, which instantly adjourned temporarily, while the cry was raited throughout the building, and the telephones were set ringing to communicate with the fire brigade. In a few minute? several of the members threw off their coats and began wrenching the benches from the floor, and tearing- up the carpet to find the seat of the fire. Contusion prevailed for some time, until the members of the fire brigade arrived, and made short work of the flooring and upholstery, about the seats by prizing out boards and ronding them asunder, and sooti discovered the cause of the outbreak. An adjournmeut being now called for, the committee reported progress, and the House adjourned till next day, when tho damage to the chamber was to be repaired. The origin of the fire is apparently to be attributed to the ignition of the covering around the insulated (wire which lights the building with eloctricity from the dynamo machine at the Government printing office. The engineer there noticed that something was wi\jng and stopped the dynamo, consequently the electric light weut out in the chamber just after tea, and gas was substituted.