MINES COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1287, 16 November 1911, Page 3

MINES COMMISSION.

■. ~—4,— EVIDENCE CONCLUDED. Tho Roya! Commission on Mine*, which has been touring New Zealand taking evidence in the various mining centres in tho country, resumed its sessions in 3Vsllington yesterday. Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., presided, and the other Commissioners were Messrs. Frank Heed. N. D. Cochrane, J. Dowgray, W. E. Parry, G. Fletcher, and H. f>. Moliueaux.

Evidence was taken, on the. subject of ventilation in mines, and more especially on the general question of the advantages nnu disadvantages of connecting adjoining mines b?low ground, in order to secure better ventilation. ■

W. P. Grace, General Manager of the Waihi Grand Junction Mine, thought the system might be tried with good'resuKs between his own mine and the Waihi mine. He did not think the risk of fire would be thereby increased. It would bo hard, however, to make tho right of connection compulsory. If there was difference of opinion in the managements' of adjoining mines as to the desirability of connecting up for ventilation, tho question might then have to be referred to nn expert. He did not think it was possible for any man to affirm with certainty before the connexion was made, what the result of it would be.

The chairman suggested to witness that Ventilation Boards (after the style of drainage boards) in mining districts, who would draw up rules, would meet the difficulty—Witness thought the scheme a difficult one to affirm.

Hubert P. Barry, superintendent of the Waihi Mine, gave evidence on the same subjects, lie thought it possible that the joining up of two mines might incrcaetf tlie danger from fire, which included the danger from smoke. There were only two reasons why it should be desirable to join one mine to another— to enable one mine to get rid of foul air, and to get fresh air. He, for his part, objected to take foul air or to give fresh air. The Waihi mine needed all the fresh air they could draw down into it. If Uio Waihi and Waihi Grand Junction were connected, his mine would bo the upcast, and would' bo a very long way from a. downcast. The union might also short-circuit the Waihi mine's air circulation. .Generally he thought the. two mines were too big to rely on each other.. It would be dangerous to allow the question of whether two mines should be joined to be decided by an inspector or the Minister. Decision must be by an open Court iu which evidence could be given. He was even doubtful whether the warden should have power to make union compulsory; it was such a serious matter for the objecting mine. He thought the chairman's proposal to set up local mining boards would do no good. They would lead to endless complications, and there were not sufficient questions arising: everything was fairly well covered in the Mining Act, anil tho regulations. But the last regulations scorned to him to have been drawn without sufficient consideration.

If. Illais, accountant for tho •State Coal Mines gave evidence as to the cost of making briquettes. Tho supply of briquettes was sometimes irregular! but no was not »nro that under present conditions, even jf the supply was regular, •and the salo was pushed for a time, the manufacture cf briquettes could bo made

a financial success. His inures proved that the average cost of making briquettes was £\ 7s. 10<I. per lon, and the average sale price more than lis. per ton less.

■J. .ftpence Xico! laid before the Commission a patent process for the binding ot slack coal into briquettes. The new process was, as he explained, different tram the Government method, especially in the use of a cheaper binding material. Hie Mate Cn.il Department used pitch, •an expensive malerial. In his process the binder „•„ ~f (or> , imp> ~„,,' flom and the cost would be about ii. 3d. per ton of briquette* produced. . I'ho Cam mission lias concluded the hearing ot evidence and il will now prepare it*, report All the members will'remain ii. Weljingion until this work is repoit has been extended to December 1