SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume I, Issue 28, 24 October 1840, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The New Hospital. — On Wednesday last, the foundation stone of this building was laid by His Excellency Col. Gawler, on the site originally marked out by the late Colonel Light, at the north east end of the town. The number who met to witness the ceremony was not large, owing to its distance, and the unsettled state of the weather. Among those present, we observed (he > lon. Captain Sturt, Assistant Commissioner, George 1 1 all, Esq., Acting Colonial Secretary, Major O'Halloran, Commissioner of Police, the Reverend C. B. Howard, Colonial Chaplain, G. S. Kingston, Esq., Colonial Architect, David McLaren, Esq., Manager of the South Australian Company, J. G. Nash Esq., Colonial Surgeon, Dr. Litchfield, Inspector of Hospitals, and several others. On the plate deposited in the stone was the following inscription : — " The foundation stone of this building was laid by His Excellency Col. George Gawler, K.H., on this day of July the 15th, 1840, and of the third year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. — Architect, G. S. Kingston, Esq. — Builder, B. Fuller." The ceremony of laying the stone having been concluded, His Excelleucy briefly addressed the spectators, expressing his gratification at the commencement of so good a work, and his hope that it would be warmly supported. The site on which the building is about to^be erected appears to have been exceedingly well chosen, being, as it is,Ni rising and elevated spot within about ten minutes' walk of the town. From the plans, with a sight of which we have been favoured, we have every reason to suppose that it will be both a substantial and an ornamental erection. The necessity which existed for an institution of this, kind, will, we have little doubt, be fully attested by the support it will receive. — Southern Australian.

Explosion or Gunpowder. — On Saturday afternoon, the residents in Hindley-street, were alarmed by an explosion resembling the discharge of a heavy piece of ordiuance. In a few seconds, people were running from every direction to ascertain the cause, when it appeared the noise proceeded from the premises of Mr. Featherstone, storekeeper, opposite the Government Auction Rooms. It was found that the explosion had been caused- by ignition of several canisters of gunpowder, which had been in a yard behind the store. A young man in the employ of Mr. Featherstoue, was smoking a pipe in the yard, and either the pipe or some sparks from it, fell among the gunpowder, winch of course instantly exploded. The young man was very severely scorched, and was rendered worse by being plunged into a tub of water immediately by some person present. He is now, we understand, recovering; but has lost the sight ot one of his eyes. This ougltt to serve as a caution to storekeepers — the custom of leaving gunpower exposed, being too common in Adelaide. The quantity of powder which exploded was 381b. — Adelaide Chronicle.