TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.

A NUMBER OF MINERS ENTOMBED. INT BURNING MINE. CONTRADICTORY REPORTS AS •TO TOTALS. - SEVERAL BADLY BURNED. \ LATEST REPORT STATES. 36 MEN STILL IN MINE, PITIFUL SCENES! AT PIT-MOUTH. (Per Press Association.) HAMILTON, this day, A tenible explosion occurred at Ralphs mirte, Huntly, at 7.30 thfe morning. , Thirty men were entombed. Four nave, been rescued; badly :burned, three of whom have been sent to the Waikato hospital. The town shook as if by an earthquake when the explosion occurred^ arid the atmosphere is still dense with smoke. Owing to the. smoke and fumes' it vis impossible to approach tha £it head, but •relief parties left at nine! o'clock to 'enSST . shaft > from the other end. The cause of the explosion' is known. '„.:.. > ,

AUCKLAND, this day. ": v An explosion occurred at Balph's; colliery, Huntly, at 7.30 this monunff. The town shook like it would, durixig an earthquake. The atmosphere was filled with dense smoke. Kfty ; miners, when the explosion occurred. Twenty , escaped, five being badly burned. Ttirseof these were sent to; the Hamilton 'A rescue party has been^brgamseTi.