The boiler was of a treacherous material and weak shape, and unfit to bear safely the 7 lbs. pressure the column of water from the cistern would give. The fire also acted on the sides of the boiler without any intervening brickwork. If a closed top boiler is used, there should be a dead weight safety valve to prevent pressure. A far safer plan is to have the kitchen boiler with open top and the circulating heater within it, so that it can never get overheated, as it only obtains its heat from the water in the open boiler. * * * * * _R. Broomhall, Printer, Stourbridge._ BOILER EXPLOSIONS IN 1870. _No. 1. Newcastle. (Fig. 1.) January 7th. 3 killed, 1 injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 1._] One of five. Cornish, 13 years old, 30ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 3ft. 3in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. Tube collapsed sideways from weakness, and the front part and the front plate were blown out, carrying the attendants into a deep and swollen river which ran close in front of boilers. _No. 2. South Wales. (Fig. 2.) January 15th. 1 killed, 4 injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 2._] Plain cylinder, very old, 32ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. Externally corroded to 1/16 inch, and gave way near a seam, the front being thrown forward into a house, and the back end 150 yards to the rear, carrying away the stack. It had been badly repaired with bolted patches which had hastened corrosion, and as it was known to be nearly worn out, it was to have been replaced in a few days. _No. 3. Worksop. (Fig. 3.) January 28th. 2 killed._ [Illustration: _Fig. 3._] Domestic, 2ft. wide, 1ft. 10in. high, and 7in. deep, 3/8 inch plates, with badly welded joints. The circulating pipes to cistern, 15ft. above, were frozen, and steam pressure accumulated and blew out the front. _No. 4. Ipswich. (Fig. 4.) February 4th. 1 killed._ [Illustration: _Fig. 4._] One of three. Cornish, 7 years old, 24ft. long, 5ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 65 lbs. pressure. The boiler was good and well fitted, but an accumulation of salt on tube caused overheating and rupture of 3rd seam. _No. 5. Sheffield. (Fig. 5.) February 8th. 2 killed, 6 injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 5._] One of three. Rag Boiler, 2 years old, 11ft. diameter, 9-1/2ft. deep, 7/16 inch plates. Steam was supplied from the engine exhaust, and was usually about 10 lbs. pressure, but as the boilers from which the steam was originally supplied worked at 60 lbs., it is possible this was sometimes exceeded. The vessel was of very weak shape for even 10 lbs. pressure. _No. 6. Derby. (Fig. 6.) February 14th. 1 killed, 2 injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 6._]