The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-15 00:00:00

ANOTHER EXPLOSION CAUSED BY NITRO-

GLYCERINE.

A tremendous explosion occurred in Sydney on
the 4th March, and there seems no doubt that it was
caused by nyno-glycerine. The explosion occurred in the
stores of Messrs. Monson and Black, in Bridge-street,
which were totally destroyed. The noise of the explosion
very much resembled the discharge of artillery, and the
position of the occurrence was indicated by a dense column
of dust and rubbish which ascended to the height of at
least 150 feet. The concussion of the atmosphere was
such that the glees of all the windows which happened to
be closed at the time within a radius of three or four hun-
dred yards was smashed, indeed it is said that some win-
dows at a much greater distance were also broken. As to
the stores, they were completely demolished, there being
literally not one stone left upon another. The destruction
of the 'buildings was instantaneous. In the immediate
neighbourhood the damage was very great. Several
of the surrounding buildings were so much injured
that it was expected they would have to be
pulled down, and the entire street was so damaged that
all business was put a stop to for some days. "As to the
origin of the explosion (says the Sydney Morning Hernld
of March 21) nothing definite is yet known. The general
impression which prevails is that the explosion was in
some way or other occasioned by the liquid called nitro-
glycerine, but in what manner is as yet matter of mere
conjecture. Two cases of this substance were imported
per the Ramsey, and, as we are informed, were plated in
the Queen's stores at the Custom-house on the 18th of
February, and they remained there until the 28th.
These cases were marked M over 386 and M over 363, the
words blasting oil' being also written on them. On
Monday morning Mr. Winckler, to whom the cases
were consigned, pointed out to the Inspector-General
of Police where he thought they might be found. Cap-
tain M'Lerie thereupon directed a number of labourers
to search for the cases, which they accordingly did, but
no traces of them could be discovered. It is said that
the oil was contained in glass bottles, most, if not all, of
which were in one of the wooden cases, the other case con-
taining instruments to be used in its application. It has
not been ascertained whether there are any samples of
nitro-glycerine in Sydney ; but if there are, it might be
well that the oil should be subjected to chemical analysis,
in order that precise information may be obtained as to its
peculiar properties." In the Legislative Assembly, on the
7th March, Mr. Lloyd asked the Colonial Treasurer—
" Whether the government have made, or intend to make,
any communication to the Custom-house authorities in Eng-
land relative to the export of the nitro-glycerine from that
country to this colony?' The reply was, that the Col-
lector of Customs had been directed to communicate with
the Board of Customs of England by the outgoing mail,
on the subject referred to by the hon. member. The go-
vernment appointed a commission to inquire into the
cause of the explosion. The gentlemen constituting the
commission commenced their inquiry on the 9th, and ter-
minated on the 16th of March. At the close of the last
meeting the chairman (Mr. Campbell) remarked that " the
coninissioners now thought that, so far as the taking of evi-
dence was concerned they had prosecuted this inquiry as
far as it could be at present. They had availed themselves
of all the information offered, and had sought all the evi-
dence that they thought would tend to throw any light
upon the cause of the catastrophe, and they now proposed
to conclude the inquiry. They would now consult among
themselves with a view to reporting, as soon as possible, to
the government the result of their inquiry, and they in-
tended to make such recommendations as they might think
desirable for the public safety." The proceeduiga then
terminated.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.—The annual meeting
of this society, which was established in 1860 for the intro-
duction, acclimatisation, and domestication of all useful or
ornamental animals, birds, Sallee, insects, and vegetables,
was held yesterday afternoon in the council-room of the
Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, Mr.
J. W. Malcolm, M.P., in the chair. The secretary read
the minutes of the previous meeting, in which it was men-
tioned that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales had
accepted the office of president of the society. The chair-
man said he hail great pleasure in announcing that the
council of the Acclimatisation Society and the council
of the Ornithological Society of London had agreed to
amalgamate the two societies, and they would hencefor-
ward be carried on as one society, and would be governed
by one council, to consist of fourteen members, exclusive
of the president, vice-presidents, and honorary treasurer,
who would be ex-officio members. It would be therefore
necessary to amend the second rule of the association in
accordance with the proposed amalgamation, and be begged
to propose a resolution to that effect. Viscount Gage se-
conded the resolution, and it was agreed to. Mr. Bush was
re-elected honorary treasurer, and Mr. Frank Buckland as
naturalist manager of the society. A resolution confirm-
ing the appointment of his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales as president of the society, and the Duke of Hue-
clench, Lord Stanley, M.P., the Duke of Marlborough,
Mr. Malcolm, M.P., Viscount Gage, &c., as vice-presi-
dents, was unanimously adopted. The secretary then read
the report of the past year, in which lengthened details
were given of the experiments which had been made
during that period in acclimatisation, a large number of
which had been very successfuL The finances of the so-
ciety were in a favourable state. The removal of the
offices of the society to South Kensington would be at-
tended with a diminution of expenditure, while the amsl-
pmation with the Ornithological Society would be pro-
ductive of a considerable increase of income. The report
was unanimously agreed to. A vote of thanks to the
chairman concluded the business of the meeting.
LONDON DOMESTIC MISSION.—The annual meet-
ing of the friends of this mission was held last evening, at
Radley's Hotel, Bridge-street ; Mr. J. W. Dawson in the
chair. The reports of the mission from its brunches in
Spicer-street, Spitalfields, and Chapel-street, Cripplegate,
were of a satisfactory character, and it was stated that
the experiences of the past year had added fresh evidence
of the necessity of the institution, and of its harmony with
the letter and spirit of Christianity. The mission embraced
numerous agencies :—Sunday, day and evening schools,
reading-rooms, savings club for the schools and neighbour-
hood, congregations with established Sunday evening ser-
vices, congregational benevolent funds, occasional school,
congregational and reading room, excursions into the
country, and the direct missionary work of house visitation
among the poor. A course of lectures on popu-
lar subjects had also been given with much success,
and there had been two elocutionary entertainments and
a Tonic Sol-fa concert, which had been well attended. In
the present crowded state of London the work of the mis-
sion was of great importance. The poor of the metropolis,
owing to railway improvements, were crowded together in
the most abject dwellings, and the manner in which they
were exposed to moral danger called for a great effort
towards ameliorating their condition, and imparting to
them a knowledge of Christian truth, and the beauties of
the gospel. The London Domestic Mission assisted in this
task, and its success depended on the Divine blessing, and
the support not only of the philanthropist, but of every
one interested in the religious, moral, and social advance-
ment of the masses. Sir John Bowling moved the adop-
tion of the report, which was unanimously Votes
of thanks were passed to the missionaries f:rtteitlabours
during the past year.
THE SHORT-ROVE Movimarrr.—The lesAing em-
ployers in the drapery trade of the Commercial-road met
last week at Messrs. Crane and Co.'s, to consider the ques-
tion of closing at an earlier blur. remit was WWII-
mous agreement to reduce the present hours, by closing at
7 o'clock on the Saturday.
GURNEY'S Norga.—At the meeting held in Nor-
wich, a day or two ago, to vote confidence in Gurney's
bank, Sir S. Bignold told • panic anecdote. He reed-
'acted hearing some months ago that an old
ask lady rushed to
the bank with • deposit note, end cm being ed whether
she would have bank notes or gold, although previously
under the influence of • sort of panic, she said appa-
rently very indignantly, "No, give me Gurney's notes."
(Loud laughter.) The notes were given to her, she put
them into her pocket with the utmost possible content,
and the result has proved that she was justified in that
contentment.