FALL OF A BUILDING— NARROW ESCAPE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 777, 9 June 1877, Page 2

FALL OF A BUILDING— NARROW ESCAPE.

(from the 'herald's ' correspondent.) DuNEDiN, Thursday. Great exaitement was occasioned m. _ the vicinity of the Post* Office this afternoon, consequent upon a rumbling noise, resembling- an earthquake, being heard, followed by a large volume of dust. The cansp of this proved to be that t the south side of Messrs Kirkpatrick's and Glendining's premises had given way. Excavations have been going on alongside this building for some time, and about 1.30 p.m. Mr falter Palmer, noticing the bricks giving way, called the attention of Mr Norman "Wood," who was m charge of the works, to, the falling building, and the men had ju3t got clear of it when the after portion of the back pai't of the premises, used as a workshop, gave way. Fortunately at this time all the girls, with che exception of two, were away at dinner, but these, Misses Black and G;iiley, were thrown down with the falling bricks. They escaped with 6n]y a iuw. bruises about the : head and body, The; first intimation those iv the shop got of the accident was a creaking noise amongot thu bricks, followed immediately by the" crash. This afternoon all the girls wore sent home, work m the upper part of the building being impossible. There" was not the, slightest foundation for the silly and exaggerated rumours circulated as to a man haying been buried beneath the ruins. Lucikly the accident occurred at the dinner hour when only five or six girls were m the room. Two fell out through the wall ; four others escaped downstairs amid a shower of plaster. Ten inmates later and 40 girls would have been at work m the room. The most valuable portion of the" drapery stock is almost destroyed, and the damage is roughly estimated at from £8000 to £40,000.