FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - A somewhat singular explosion was reported to the Durham City Police on Tuesday evening, from the yard of the Durham Gas Company. It is usual to convey quantities of tar and oil from the gas works to the goods station in Gilesgate in a large iron tank drawn by several horses. This tank was being loaded by the driver and other men, and as darkness was setting in, the men, in order to find out whether the tank was nearly full, took off a manhole and held a lighted candle at the vacant space. A loud explosion followed, and all the men were more or less seriously burnt about the face. The driver was so much worse that he had to be detained at the Durham Infirmary, but the other men were able to go to their homes.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - A team of Darlington engineers employed by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co, of Darlington, will shortly leave for Australia, in order to supervise the labour force for the construction of a £480,000 bridge on the outskirts of Sydney, the contract for which has been captured by the Darlington firm. This is the firm's biggest contract since that received for the Siam railway bridge and it will take four years to build.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - A consignment of antibiotics produced in Barnard Castle was aboard Concorde on its first commercial flight for British Airways on Wednesday. The antibiotics are part of a regular order placed by Glaxo's agent in Bahrain for use in the country's hospitals and surgeries.