The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-21 00:00:00

THE OLDBURY EXPLOSION.

BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY EVENING.—The examination
of witnesses who could bear testimony with respect to
the cause of the late unfortunate occurrence in the
neighbourhood, was resumed this morning. In conse-
quence of the evidence already adduced, the following
letter was read from the Home-office:—
" Whitehall, Nov. 19, 1846.

" Sir,---I am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey
to inform you that his attention has been drawn to the
inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate persons who
lost their lives by the recent explosion in Mr. Parker's
colliery at Oldbury. Sir George Grey thinks that in-
formation bearing on the subject, which may be useful
to this inquiry, is to be found in the enclosed report on
the subject of the explosion at the Haswell Collieries in
tlieptember, 1844, and Sir George Grey will be glad to
be informed whether the precautions recommended in
the enclosed report appear to have been observed in Mr.
Parker's colliery.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" S. M. PIIILLIPPS.

" To Mr. George Hinchliffe."
The evidence addueed varied little from that which
has already been published. Mr. Haynes, the mine sur-
veyor, produced a plan of the workings of mine. In
the course of his examination, he stated that every pos-
sible means had been taken, in his judgment, to secure
safety. New gates, or air-passages, had been recently
constructed, and, in fact, no expense spared by the pro-
prietor. Ho declared it to be his opinion that the acci-
, dent occurred in consequence of the falling in of a por-
tion of coal, which had been not worked out in conse-
quence of its inferior quality ; and he further stated it
as his opinion that the dams between the new and old
work had been constructed with sufficient substantiality;
but several of the jury expressed an opinion that the
current had not been sufficiently strong to force out the
noxious gases which had accumulated in the " crop," the
place where the cause of the explosion is supposed to
have originated.
Mr. Brettell and the other gentlemen who had been
appointed to examine the state of the pit, declared that
it was at present so filled with sulphur as to render it
impossible they should proceed until Saturday. The in-
quest was accordingly adjourned until Monday.

RAILWAY RETURNS.
RAILWAY Taavvm.—The following are the Total Receipts of Rail-
ways for the past week—that is to say, up to the date to which th•
respective returns are made, together with the receipts of the same
week in the previous year :

Week
ending

Last
week.

2.24

No 14
1:3
12
17
15
14
14
15
14
8
14
14

THE LATE AWFUL FIRE AT
GRAVESEND.—ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
GRAVESEND, FRIDAY, 11 P. 211.— The calamitous fire
which occurred here yesterday has caused great excite-
ment in the district, and throughout the day the streets
have been thronged by the inhabitants of the neighbour-
ing villages, who flocked into the town to witness the
effects of the devouring element. The fire has not been
entirely subdued, but from the precautionary measures
which have been adopted, there is little danger of its
ravages extending. It is satisfactory to state that the
fears which were entertained, that the lives of several
individuals had been lost, were unfounded. It has now
been ascertained, beyond doubt, that the inmates of all
the houses which have been destroyed escaped in safety.
It was a most fortunate circumstance that at the time
the fire broke out the wind was blowing from the south-
ward. There can be little doubt that, with a northerly
wind, the conflagration would have extended up the
High-street, and as the houses in that district are prin-
cipally constructed of wood, it is fearful to contemplate
the result.
Among the houses destroyed are the Privateer Inn
(Mr. Tisdale's) ; Mr. W. Edwards's, general dealer ;
Mr. Horton's, fishmonger (whose house was pulled down
to prevent the progress of the fire); Mr. Skillen's, green.
grocer ; Mr. H. Pettit's, eating-house ; Mr. Lambert's,
eating-house; the Rum Puncheon Tavern (known as
Curtis's Hotel); a warehouse called the " Old Brew-
house;" the Bole-in-the-Wall public-house; and the ale
and stout stores of Mr. Richard Jerry. No complete
statement of the destruction of property occasioned by
this lamentable event has yet been prepared.
It is due to the Rev. Mr. Joynes, the rector of
Gravesend, to state that, when the serious nature of the
conflagration was ascertained, the church and church-
yard were thrown open for the reception of the goods of
those persons whose property was placed in jeopardy,
and that Mr. Joynes, with great consideration, ordered
the church to be lighted up.
It is said that there was on the premises of Mr.
Troughton, ironmonger, no less than 2 cwt. of gun-
powder, which was fortunately removed before the flames
extended to the premises.
We understand that Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly (who
commanded the detachment of troops from Tilbury
Fort), the Mayor, Mr. Oakes, a magistrate, Mr. North,
the superintendent of police, and many of the respectable
inhabitants of the town, exerted themselves in the most
indefatigable manner in directing the efforts of the fire-
men, the military, and the police.
The bank of Messrs. Hills, M'Crae, and Co., in West-
street, was burnt down, but the deeds and other important
papers in the hands of the concern, as well as their books,
&c., were fortunately saved.
At the time this report left the fire was not entirely
extinguished. The engines were still playing upon the
upper story of the Pier Hotel, and occasionally a fitful
flame darted from the ruins of the destroyed houses.

OFFICIAL. REPORT OF THE DAMAGE.
Some idea may be formed of the magnitude of the fire
by the subjoined report of the engineers of the brigade
force (who were sent down at an early hour to ascertain
the list of the sufferers), made up to the latest hour, six
o'clock; but it is expected that there are many other
losses that have escaped their notice, in consequence of
the great excitement that prevails.
West-street (waterside) No. 74—Mr. Garratt, grocer
and tea-dealer; dwelling-house and shop destroyed,
warehouse and stores at the back fronting the river also
consumed. Mr. Garrott is insured in the Sun Fire-office
for• 7001., which will not cover his loss by nearly 1,000/.
Buildings insured iu the Kent Office.
No. 75. Jointly occupial by Mrs. Cross, greengrocer,
and Mr. Hoff, draper; double house. Burnt down.
No. 73. Mr. Patties, eating-house keeper; dwelling-
house, shop, and waterside premises destroyed. Sup-
posed to be only partly insured.
No. 72. The Pope's Head Tavern, occupied by Mr.
G-uld; front and back premises, with the spacious
dining-rooms facing the Thames, consumed. Buildings
and contents partly insured in the Kent Fire-office.
No. 71. Mr. Dixon, beer-shop keeper ; front and
waterside premises totally destroyed; supposed to be not

insured.
No. 70. Mr. Eversfield, sailecaker, warehouse and
stores consumed; not insured.
No. 69. Mr. Carlin, hatter and eapmake:r; shop, dwel-
ling-house, and back premises burnt down.
No. 68. Cooperage, and provision warehouses and
stores, belonging to :dr. Vallonce and others, destroyed;
partially insured in the County -office. The loss here
estimated at 2,5001,
No. 67. Beehive public •house, Mr. Perfit ; burnt down.
No. 66. (Occupier's name not, known.) Fishmonger;
burnt down.
No. 65. Talbot Tavern, slightly injured; all the
water-side premises (capable of dining 800 persons)
deAroyed.
Opposite side of the street—The banking-house of
Messrs. Hills, M'Crae, and others, totally destroyed;
books, papers, and cash were saved. Insured in the Kent
Fire-office.
Dwelling-house and shop occupied by Mr., Taylor,
baker and ship biscuitmaker burnt down. Nut insured.
Mr. Goodsall, hairdresser, house and shop destroyed.
Partly insured.
Shop and dwelling-house of Mr. Owen, chemist, to-
tally consumed.
Mr. Petitt, eating house keeper, the entire premises
destroyed.
Mr. Beard, ship's butcher, shop and dwelling burnt
down.
Shop and dwelling of Mr. Edwards, grocer, burnt
down.
The premises of Mr. Skillen, greengrocer, consumed.
Dwelling and shop of Mr. G. Edwards, grocer, burnt
down.
Mr. George Rackstraw, baker, house and shop, de-
stroyed.
Shop and dwelling of Mr. R xbury, fishmonger, con-
sumed.
Mr. Horton, fishmonger, the entire building burnt
down.
Sutter's-alley (on the south side of West-street)--
The dwellings Nos. 1,2, 3, and 4, partly gutted. The
inmates, poor labouring families, not insured.
New-court (on the same side of West-street)—The
houses Nos. 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7, and 8, the property of Mr.
C. Johnson, auctioneer, at Gravesend, burnt down. Oc-
cupied by poorer classes, none of whom are insured.
High-street—The Pier Hotel, at the north-east corner
of West-street, occupied by Mr. Lovel, destroyed.
Insured in the Phconix-office.
No. 6. Mr. Roe, hatter and general outfitter, burnt
down.
No. 5. (Occupier's name not known.) Dwelling and
shop destroyed.
No. 4. Mr. Tuffnel, fishmonger, premises consumed.
Mr. Troughton, ironmonger and agent of the Alliance
Fire-office (the south-east corner of West-street))
partly destroyed.
There are a great number of other damages occa•
sioned by hasty removal of goods, furniture, &c. ; they,
however, are of not much amount. The total loss is
roughly estimated at between 20,0001. and 30,0001.; the
chief hulk of which will fall on the Kent, County,
Phcenix, Sun, Alliance, Licensed Victuallers, and Royal
Exchange Insurance-offices.

WESTMINSTER LITERARY AND SCIENTIPIC INSTI-
TUTION.--On Thursday evening last, Charles Cochrane,
Esq., President of the National Philanthropic Associa-
tion, delivered a lecture, pursuant to invitation, at the
above institution, "On the evils consequent upon im-
perfect municipal and sanatory regulations." He com-
menced by stating the importance of the subject, by
referring to the great number of deaths occasioned
yearly, owing to the absence of proper sanatory regula-
tions, and drew a frightful and vivid picture of the state
of the poorer districts, comparing the average duration
of life of the wealthy and the poorer classes. He showed
that in some towns the richer classes lived twice, and in
others three times, as long as the poorer; that from the
want of pure and an ample supply of water, the absence
of light, proper food, ventilation, drainage, cleansing, &c.,
the children of the poor suffered to a dreadful extent. He
then went at some length into the difficulties necessary to
be surmounted in producing a change for the better, viz.,
the lukewarmness and indifference of the municipal and
other authorities, to whom the administration of the
law was entrusted; the number of irresponsible Boards
of Commissioners who, regardless of the duties they
had to perform, sought in a most unwise and unjust
manner to keep down the rates by neglecting to pro-
mote the sanatory improvement in the neighbourhoods
of the poor. He instanced the fact of the great desire
of the poor to take advantage of everything tending to
promote cleanliness in their persons and dwellings, by re-
ferring to the great number of poor persons who supported
baths and washhouses; that in some cases the latter,
although only charging mere nominal sums for admis-
sion, had realised profits amounting to 100 per cent.
Mr. Cochrane concluded his lecture by urgently re-
questing all present to work individually with the view
of inducing the authorities to give to the poor that which
the rich could take for themselves, and by such means to
raise morally and physically the condition of the former
class. The lecture was very respectably attended, sad
listened to with much attention.
MADEIRA ORANGES.—The cultivation of this deli-
cious fruit is likely to form an important feature in the
export trade from Madeira, the soil being in every way
adapted for the growth, the temperature being similar to
that of the Azores. A small parcel in boxes, the first
received in this country as an article of commerce from
that quarter, has just arrived, consigned to Keeling and
Hunt, Monument-yard, by the Dart, Captain Newton.
The fruit is perfectly sweet. This vessel has likewise
brought a large quantity of bananans in a ripe state,
specimens of walnuts, chestnuts, green citrons, and
sugarcanes, all the growth of Madeira, being sent over
as a sample of the productive capabilities of the place, to
test their applicability to English tastes.
The interesting and novel entertainment, by Ma-
dame Warton and her troupe, at the rooms of the late
Miss Linwood, in Leicester-square, are respectably and
numerously attended. The tableaux represent, in living
figures, the works of the most eminent artistes, and we
arranged with the greatest taste and delicacy. Of those
received with the most applause arc " Ariadne," " Cain
and Abel," and a Grecian Harvest Homo." The
figures in the latter are grouped as peasants dancing and
merry-making on the green, each *decorated with gar-
lands and ears of corn, emblems of their rural occupa-
tion, the band playing a favourite air, accompanied by a
choir of singers. This joyous group has altogether a
pleasing and lively effect, and is nightly encored.
Decks repetita placebit." Mr. Adams, in conducting
the scenic arrangements, displays the same taste that so
frequently drew forth public encomium during the time
he so successfully catered for the visitors to Vauxhall.
Tan WlLL.—This subject, so abundant in various
interest—exciting now to laughter and now to tears, is
the theme of a new work of fiction by a very clever
writer, who has already obtained for himself deserved
reputation. This new romance, which will appear next
week, i 3 entitled " The Will ; or, the Half Brothers."
There are reasons why the present work must appear
anonymously.