Curious Industrial Project.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4545, 17 November 1882, Page 3

Curious Industrial Project.

A curious industrial project— says AngloAustralian — has just been brought under my notioe. This is nothing less than planting sunflowers in some at present unproductive lands in the Thames Valley. The sunflower has many virtues and muoh commercial value, and is held in high esteem in China and in many parts of Southern Europe. One of the main objects of the present soheme is to obtain oil — one aore of sunflowers usually yielding 50 bushels of seeds, and eaoh bushel a gallon of exoellent oil. It happens, moreover, that the sunflower aupplies the best bee food in the world, and as in New Zealand and certain parts of the Austral continent beea abound, it might be worth while, perhaps, to take tbe hint and combine bee-keeping with oil oulture. The two pursuits would surely be very profitable if ayatematioally carried out. Not long ago, in San Diego, California, one bee-master raised aix thousand pounds worth ef sound merchantable honey in a single year. In Western Australia espeoially bees already abound in eountless myriads, and if certain tracts were properly planted with sunflowers, we might soon have something mere than the nuclei of a very promising industry. The sunflower, by the way, ie, I believe, really indigenous to Central America, and there frequently attains the amazing height of 20ft, and forms a oonspicuous and splendid object even in the midst of the startling flora of that sub-tropical region,

Tremendous Explosion at Cairo -Great Destruction of Life and Property. The Timee oorrespefldenfc, writing on Sept. 28, says :— Shortly after 4 p.m., a terrifio explosion, resembling a broadside from the Inflexible, was heard over Cairo. As I was hurrying inthe direotion of the sound another succeeded, and I was soon met by a crowd of terrified Arabs hastening with shrieks from the station. There I found two ammunition trains, apparently charged with gunpowder and shells, in flames, the shells bursting at the rate of three and four a minute. A Major of Marines and one privato were wounded and an Arab killed. The atreets were alive with fire-engines and soldiers, but it was quite impossible to approach the trains, which were drawn up a few yards before entering the station, as they continued diacharging missiles. Owing to the energetic efforts of the military, who had to contend with great difficulties, the pumping material being scanty, the fire was localised, and finally got under by nine o'clock. The passenger atation was saved, but all the goods sheds, containing provisions for the army for ten days, as well as about a hundred trucks of ammunition, were destroyed. Many suppositiena were current at firat concerning the origin of the fire. The railway officials express the belief that it was due to foul play, because they noticed that the truoks on two separate linea of railway burst out into a blaze at one and the same time ; and subsequently to the first explosion two Arabs were seised in the act of setting firs to somo truoks. A third Arab wsb also deteoted in an attempt to fire some of the rolling stook, but he escaped. The damage, inoluding the lobs of rolling stock, is estimated at several hundred thousand pounda. No private merchandise was burned. Later news saya that the explosion is believed to have been caused eithor by a slight collision between the train from Tantah and anothor which was standing in the Cairo station, or to some sparks from the engine igniting the contents of the latter, consisting of ammunition. The Tantah train had brought a portion of lhe 75th Begiment and shells and ammunition. Two great explosions oocurred first, followed by two smaller ones, when the station caught fire. The number killed is stated at 17, inoluding one officer and aix privates. A good many pereons have also been injured, soma being soldiers. The warehouses adjoining the station, which wore filled with commissariat stores, have been completely gutted by tho fire. Five trains and about 200 waggons, together, with quantities of war material, havo beon destroyed ; in all we have had four soldiers killed and 15 wounded. Native loss not known. The 60th Bifles, who were on the platform, had a narrow esoape. A cordon of soldiers was at onco placed round the station. During the progress of the lire the Duke of Connaught was with tho Guards, who wero hard at work. It was vory dangerous to approach the burning buildings, as splinters of shell were fljingabout in all directions. Most of our reserve ammunition, with an enormous quantity of ordnance and commissariat stores, was destroyed. Numbers of the inhabitants rushed out with their childron in their arms, and their money and other portables, under the impression that Cairo hod been surprised by a new enemy. At 7 p.m. the fire was still raging. The whole of the railway station wag in flames, and for tho last hour tho noise of small ammunition and tho explosion of shells exactly resembled tho roar of the battle-field. The Times correspondent on Sept. 29 writo as follows:— There is no direct evidenco to ehow that the explosion of the first train, laden with ammunition, was anything bat accidental. That explosion aet fire to two other trains, and all three were simultaneously pouring shells about the station. But subsequently two carriages containing hay, at aome distance off, were undoubtedly fired by incendiaries, and later two men with torches, who were endeavouring to firo the adjoining quarter of the town, were arrested. The troops wero on duty all night. The fire is now pretty well got under. The station is saved, but the damage which has been done is fearful. All the outside sheds, a house of Bagheb P»»ha, about 100 trucks of ammunition, provisions, provender, and medioal stores have been destroyed. Pour men have been killed, and fifteen are reported to have been wounded.