Spectator 1921

[appledumplin]

I can't get 14A or 23A.

14A: Short smart rig mostly containing gas ?i?ric. I want nitric but not sure why.

23A: Old slums Ruaidhari certainly visits ?o????y. No idea on this one.

Thank you!

[kayakamina]

23a Rookery

[turnerjmw]

It is NITRIC. NIP is a word meaning to smart, and TRICK is a meaning of Rig, both of which have to be shortened. Kayakamina is also right about ROOKERY

[appledumplin]

Thank you both.

[appledumplin]

OK, I've now done it all except 17A (unclued) pee?s.

I obviously haven't quite understood the theme ....

[turnerjmw]

It's not particularly clever. You should find a component of your missing answer in some of the other unclued words. All of the unclued answers exhibit one of three short words, which are hinted at by the phrase along the bottom, particularly the last word.

Sorry if that sounds complicated, but I haven't got my copy to hand

[appledumplin]

Thank you, I've got it now.