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SEWEH GAS EXPLOSION
III MELBDÜBIIE STREET
BUILDINGS SHAK1N ,
. With a loud report, powerful gas,
generated in a sewer, blew the heavy
steel ' cover of a manhole
at . the intersection of Swan-
ston and Little Bourke streets several
feet into the air on Tuesday afternoon
(says - a Melbourne message in the
"Begister").
Buildings in the vicinity were
shaken, and the sound of the explosion
and the noise made by thé cover cf
the manhole as it struck the ground
were heard more than a quarter of a
mile way. Fortunately the streets at
the spot were comparatively clear of
traffic at the time, but a man and a
woman, who were passing, narrowly
escaped being struck by the cover,
which is about two feet square. A
long piece pf timber which the man
was carrying over his shoulder was
snapped in two.
The incident caused great congestion
of traffic, and led t0 a minor,accident.
I The driver of a large motor lorry of
the Boya] Australian Air Force, draw
ling a trailer loaded with timber, tried
to pass between the manhole and a
tram, and struck the side of the tram.
The lorry damaged the side of the
front compartment of the tram, and
tore off a stanchion near the .driver's
cabin.
Mr. James Coleman was killing a
black snake on his block about five
miles from Wonthaggi when another
snake sprang at him and bit him above
the wrist (says a Wonthaggi message
in the "Sun News Pictorial"). He
tied two ligatures above the bite, and
scarified it, using salt. He was then
taken to Wonthaggi Hospital.- After
having received further treatment he
was able to go home. This is the fifth
time he has been, bitten.,.
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