EXPLOSION OF GAS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3552, 3 July 1890, Page 2

EXPLOSION OF GAS.

The residents am frequentors of that portion of Larubton Q my, near the Alheuteu'm, were. considerably startled Just evening by an explosiou of gua, which took "place in the building occupied by the Golouiul Bunk. It appears that:. during the evening Mr John MoLellan, the aocouut'aut, and Mr 0. W. Oato, the assistant accountant, returned to work and at about 8.40 a smell of gas was. noticed proceeding from the strong room, Mr MoLellan ■" told his companion to be cautious in not striking a light. MrUato opened the door of the strong-room and allowed, as; he thought, the ctreator part of the gas to escape; wheu he considered it safe he struck a match to light one of the gas jets, when ft sudden explosion took place. Both gentlemen were consideraoly scorched about the face, but beyond that, were not seriously hurt.

The explosion was of a powerful nature, To give sorao idea of its effect, it may bo slated that the strong-room is. at the far end of the main office from the street entrance, and the torce of the explosion, was bo great tbut the thick outer doors leading inlotlio street,' some 2} in. in thickness, and 10 or 11 feet in height, weighing upwards of three hundred-weight, »nd distant some, 60 feet from the strong-room, were blown completely off their hinges, and flung j into the .roadway. At the left of the street entrance is situated the waiting and the manager's (Mr Reid) rooms; each of these rooms .had doors leading into the main office, which were at the time open, The explosive gas blew the three windows in these two rooms into atoms, not even a vestige of the window sashes remaining, The glass, which is of a thick plhte quality, was scattered across tVo roadway, pieces were even picked up in Hunter street. The wire and Venetian blinds of the windows were torn and twisted into fantastic sbape3 Tho cause of the mishap occurred in the strong room, which is divided nto two parts by means of an iron, grille, In the inner portion a gas pendant was in a bad condition, and had evidently been leaking for some time, and when a lighted match was introduced the violent explosion took placo. Veiy little damage is done to the Strong room, save the Rcorchlng of the outside of the bundles of papers and book and their soaking, consequent onthe water used. The interior of the main office is not damaged bevond th»« breakingofseverbf 1 windows at the far end. The explosion betrayed some peculiar effects, In the ' munngei'sroom the hearthrug was , nearly lifted and doubled in two, the ■ windfiws were completely destroyed, but none of tho loose papers on tin: i table had been disturbed. The inner i half-glass doors facing the main' on- • trance had tne glass shattered, but 1 as the doors were not secured, swing-

ing loosely, they gave way to the pressure of the gas, Mr James Lockie, the well-known contractor, had a narrow escape, Ho was pissing at the time, and one of the front doors fell with' great force within a few inches of hie body, The show of glass from tne windows was hurled in all directions, hut fortunately, no one wbb struck.—rtiiKSi

, • Later. The damage to the glass and building by the explosion is estimated at under LIOO. The glass was inBiiretl for LSO in the South British, and the other damage, is covered by ut polioy in the South British and Standard offices, The Btrong room waa uninjured, but some of the bank's papers were burnt, The manager siatts none of them are of importance. MoLellan and Cato are progressing favourably. Business is being carried on in the building as usual to-day,

AGHICOLTOR&L SOCIETY•The Committee of .the above Society met in the Club Hotel yesterday afternoon to arrange the programme for the next annual show. Most of the gentlemen of the Committee wero presont, Mr Geo. Beetham, Vice-President, occupying the chair,

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the resignation of MrD. Carman received and accepted.

Mr Monckton, of Fetttheraton, wrote suggesting a plan for the better showing oi sheep, by showing them in families instead of rams alone. -It was decided to thank Mr Monckton, stating at the same time tho Society did not see its way clear to adopt his suggestion.

Last year's programme was then read and adopted with certain amendments, the principal being tint the water jump be made less, that teams of five horses he tho property of one person, and that the Polled Angus and purebred Ayrshire class be the same in the number of entries as the Herefords.

Mr McKay proposed a non-breeders class in all breeds of sheep to enable farmers to compete with better chance of success. It was considered by some of the members that this would not be a satisfactory arrange-' merit, and the motion on being put was lost by a considerable majority, Mr Beetham suggested that a prize for tho bent apparatus for rabbit destruction be, added to the list, This was unanimously agreed to, It was also decided to add drawing ploughs, aud threshing machines to the list of implements,

On the motion of Mr Donald the "jersey" or "dairy" cart was added to the list of vehioles. '

The prizes for long sorvice certificates offered last year to shepherds and ploughmen were struck out, as at the last show there was not a single entry.

Mr A, W. Cave announced his intention of giving two prizes, one of £lO to the beßt thoroughbred by Piscatorious, and another of a like amount to the best yearling out of any mare not thoroughbred. The Secretary was intruded to ascertain the cost of a turnstile for the purpose of registering the number of persons visiting the Show.

On the motion of Mr Buiok it was decided that dry brood mares, and gledings shown, together, should be eligible to compete singly, the same to apply to single.and double buggy horses.

It was also resolved that a supplementary programme be at once printed for distribution. . ~..

The Committee recommended the following gentlemen as judges for the Palmerston North. Society's next show, to be held in November: Messrs MoCrae, (sheep and' cattle); A. W.; Cave (cattle and horses), D; Donald, (implements),' MbKay, (sheepVand T r Chamberlain, (d/raugbt, * '-■•'■•. •„. /.'The proceedings:then : concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Secretary, -. -'.' |