The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-18 00:00:00

LOCAL SHARE MARKETS.

LIVIMPOOL, DEC. 17.—The market has been eery dull
to-day, at rather lower prices :—Ambergute and East Junc-
tion, 31d.—Caledonian, 1,11 15—Eastern Counties, 61-I.an-
cailiire and Yorkshire, 57 i I—Ditto (fifth shams), 80.—
London and North Western ((new t-shares),
land, 6. i—North British, a —South Eastern and Dover,
20j—Yurk and North Midland, 21! —Belfast and Bally-
mena, 301e.—Great Southern and Western, 341.
Mutant., Dec. 17.—The market to-day presented no
alteration from yesterday's rates, curl the business was not
very extensive. We have no alterations to quota in the
current rates of shares.

MANCH LSTEIt, Dec. 17.—There was not much spirit
in the market, and prices gave way, not so much owing to
any pressure of shares upon it as from the absence of spi
en-
lativc buying. The concluding sal, s were : Sheffield, 32.1;
Midlands, 541; Doren, 2(4 ; Leeds, 571; York and North
Midlands, 211.
Broxiaoosar, Dee. 17.—This market was steady to-
day, with prices generally in tvlrance. London anu North
Armtern, New Quarters, were dont. at 31 prem., 01.1 Bir-
mingham Canals at 0,51, and Birmingham Town and Dia-
trict Bank at 12.

LEEI4, DEC. 17.—Share8 hive been eery inactive this
mornint. The only business dune was in York and North
Midlands at 21j, and Think Extensione, No. 3, at j din.

TRADE IN PALM OIL.—By the entries in tho
Liverpool Customs, it appears that during the 11 months of
the present year ending on the Ist inst., no less than 23,180
tons of palm oil have been imported from Africa , thug
proving that the natives who formerly exported their
brethren as a matter of traffic, now find sat least an equally
profitable trade in the exportation of the vegetable pro-
duets sat their native soil. In addition to the quantity of
oil already received this year, the billowing vessels are she
shortly expected to arrive in Liverpool with the same ankle,
viz. :—Hants, 700 tons; Lord Elgin, 400 tons; Roe, 228
tons; Ariel, 220 tons; Dido, 204 tons; Mediterranean, 146
tons; Mercury, 140 tons; Iluskismn, 398 tons; William
Hutt, 285 tons; Golden Eagle, 99 tons ; Taplin, 459 toes ;
Magistrate, 518 tons • Lydia, 362 tuns; Juverna, 209 tons ;
Banshee, 145 tuns ' • 'Swiftsure, 208 tons ; Was, 125 tons ;
British Queen, 339 tons ; Cleopatra, 508 tons; America,
690 tons ; Petrel, 132 tons ; St. Lawrence, 360 tons ; Cronin,
177 tons ; Mary Gillespie, 264 tons; Vesta, 202 tons ; Down,
Davis, 417 tons; Mary, 45 tons; Scotland, 562 tons; Se-
vern, 362 tons ; Ellen Jenkinton, 149 tens ; Sarah More.
199 tons; Druid, 3:10 tons ; Stile 499 toss; Zephyr, 214
tons; Princess 'loyal, 612 tons; Abeona, 1,000 toss; Celicia,
922 tons ; Tipperary, 185 tons ; Adnaun, 285 tons.

SERIOUS GAS EXPLOSION AT BRISTOL.—At about
11 o'clock in the forenoon of yestcrdsy, a gas explosion, at-
tended by very serious consequences to one person, oc-
curred upon premises occupied by Mr. B. H. Hickman,
grocer, in Temple street, Bristol. It would seem that from
some leakage of one of the GM Light Company's mains,
the precise locality of which has not yet been discovered,
the gas found its way into the private drains of four or tivc
houses situated in the middle of Temple-street. Ito pre-
sence was most strongly recognised iu those inhabited by
Mr. Hickman, and Mr. James King, boot and shoemaker,
whose house forms the corner of Bear-lane; but it was
also perceptible in the houses of Mr. C. Schwa:, watch and
clockmaker, and Mr. Morris, tailor and outfitter, whose re-
sidenees are intermediate between those of the two &ra-
mmed parties. Upon coming down to breakfast Mr. Hick-
man at once remarked the strong smell of gas in his house,
more particularly in a parlour behind his shop, and suspect-
ing that the escape might be on his own premises, he min-
utely examined all his gas fittings and his gas meter. All
these proved to be sound, and he soon discovered that the
stench came up from the drain. He then caused one of his
assistants to pour a large quantity of water down the
drains, in the hope thereby of lessening the stench, and he
was engaged in superintending this operation when the ex-
plosion took place, tearing up the floor of the room, over-
turning and breaking the furniture, forcing out the sitting
room and shop windows, and doing other damage. It un-
fortunately happened that Mrs. Hickman was sitting in the
shop parlour at the time, and was thrown from her seat
among the debris of the room and furniture, and received
a severe fracture of her right leg, both bones being broken,
and several severe bruises on other parts el her perdon. The
effects of the explosion were felt, although with less severity,
in other houses. At the premises of Mr. King a sitting-
ream floor was shattered, but happily no person was in it at
the time. The matter, ea may be supposed, has caused a
great deal of excitement and consternation in the neigh-
bourhood, and an active inquiry is being instituted into it in
order to see whether blame rests with the gas company or
any other parties.
SALE OE THE CHINESE COLLECTION.—This inte-
resting collection of objects illustrating the arts, mantilla,-
tures, and customs of the Chinese, and which has been so
long exhibited at Knightsbridge, was sold by auction during
the last five days, by Messrs. Christie and Manson, at their
rooms. It was the property of the late Mr. Dunn, nod had
been collected by him with great care during his residence
in Ohba.