DUNEDIN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 633, 22 February 1879, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

This Day. A dreadful explosion occurred at the Kaitangata coal mine near Balclutha yesterday morning. At the moment of the explosion Edward Dune and his son George were entering the drive with horses when they were blown fifty yards clear of the mouth of the pit, the boy being killed. There were 36 men inside at the time, and all available efforts were made to get them out. Immediately after the explosion the station master despatched an engine for Dr. Smith from Balclutha, who reached the scene of the accident within 25 minutes A rescue party was at once organised, but could not for sc me time get into the mine, owing to fire damp and debris. A telegram received at 2 p.m. states that nine bodies have been recovered besides the boy who was blown outside of the entrance. The following are the latest particulars up to 9 o'clock last night. Twenty-eight dead bodies have been got out of the mine ; four other bodies were seen at that hour, and would be got out as soon as the debris was taken off them. Only one known for certain to be still in the mine. This is Archie Hodge, son of the manager, who will no doubt be dead. There may be one or two more, but it is not known decidedly how many were in the mine. The only persons who could give positive information would be those in the mine who are killed. About twenty widows are left by the calamity and fully 100 orphans. The scene at Kaitangata and at the pit mouth was a truely heartrendering one.