EXTRAORDINARY EXPLOSION IN COLLEGE-STREET.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 547, 27 June 1879, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY EXPLOSION IN COLLEGE-STREET.

An extraordinary explosion, which occurred this morning In the house of Mr. F. C. Binns, College-street, should be a lesson to our coal merchants to take care that the coal they sell is as free as possible from explosive materials. The fire had beea lighted as usual, the coal being from the West Wanganui Mine. Suddenly, a tremendous explosion took place, blowing the whole of the fire right out into the room, and bringing down all the plaster from the chimney. Fortunately, the two children, whojrcre right in front of the fireplace a moment before, had just moved to one side, or they must have been either killed or seriously injured, but as it was they were out of the " line of fire." Mrs. Binns received a severe blow in her face, and sustained some bruises, one of her eyes, too, being injured. Mr. Binns himself was but slightly struck. When the smoke and dust cleared away the copper case of a dynamite cartridge, which evidently had been intended for use in the mine and accidentally left in the coal, was picked up on the floor. Had tbe explosion taken place in a Leamington range, or under a | boiler, or anywhere but in an open fireplace, the consequences might have been most disastrous.

Tit for Tat.— Mamma^to Hamilton, who has been put in the corner because he would not say " please") : You may come out now, Hamilton. Hamilton: Not till you say "please 1 ' mother. One Way of Putting It.— Grandmamma: Now, Nellie, spell Ice. — Nellie: I-c-e.— Grandmamma : Do you know what ice is ?—? — Nellie: Yes, Grandmamma, it's water fast asleep.