FEARFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT KAITANGATA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 891, 22 February 1879, Page 2

FEARFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT KAITANGATA.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedes", February 21. The latest from the Kaitangata coal mine explosion is a telegram dated 6 p.m., as follows :—" All the men are found, with one exception, that of the manager's son, an dare dead; Hodge, the manager, included. The mine is clear of damp now. The greater number have been killed by the fire damp. : ' It is stated that Mr. Twinning, a professional coal viewer, examined the mine last week, and no later than yesterday told nne of the directors that all the ventilation arrangements were perfect, and everything in excellent order in the mine. He could not possibly conceive how it could have occurred. He went to Kaitangata to-day, and has superintended the arrangements for getting the men out. The following are the latest particulars up to nine o'clock to-night, fully reliable, of the Kaitangata coal mine explosion. Twenty-eight dead bodies have been got out of the mine ; four bodies were seen at that hour, and would be got out as soon as the debris had been taken off them. The only one known for certain to be in the mine is Archie Hodge, the son of the manager, who will no doubt be dead also. There may be one or two more, but it is not known decisively how many were in, the only persons who could give positive information being of course those in the mine, who are all killed. About twenty widows are left by the calamity, and fully 100 orphans. The scene at Kaitangata and at the pit mouth, as maybe imagined, is a truly heartrending one. February 22.

At midnight last night four bodies had still to be recovered from the Kaitangata mine. The Superintendent of the Benevolent Institute has telegraphed to iho local storekeeper to supply families with what the}' require.