HUNTLY INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 7

HUNTLY INQUIRY.

M INSPECTING ENGINEER'S EVIDENCE. WITNESS HITS OUT. JIINE INSPECTOR ALLEGEDLY ".HOOD.WINKED„" j I , (By. tMeerasli—Press Association,*' Auoklantf, Ootober 8. When the Huntly mining- disaster inquiry was resumed this morning, Frank Reed, Inspecting Engineer of Mines, was subjected to further cross-examin-ation. Replying to Mr. Napier (counsel for Ralph's Estate) witness said that the explosives use din Ralph's mine wero not permitted as safe explosives under the English Aot. - Are the explosives used in this mine the' explosives contemplated .in- - the existing Coal Mines Act?—" That is an obsolete and absurd Act." You may cast obloquy and ridicule on the laws of the land, but does the Act permit the use of these explosives? —"Not directly. Ten days ago the Inspector of Mines gave you notice not to use the flame system of producing explosives, and you are defying that notice by continuing to use these oxplosives in the extended mine. There have been two burning accidents there.". At the present with the exception of the Kaitangata mine, are any of the mines in New Zealand using English permitted explosives?—"l don't think even Kaitangata is." Do you consider it dangerous to use other than the.sk explosives?—" Yes, where there is gas or dangerous coal flust." A Question of Duty. Seeing that you visited the mine, and considered a holocaust probable, did you allow the whole of the year since January 1 to elapse without indicating to "the owners what you thought?—"lf was not my duty to communicate with the owners."

Then because it was not your duty you did not do so ?—"No." / Even though" you thought human lives were at 6tako? —"I adhered to. the regulations of the Civil Service." When you wrote your letter to the Under-Secretary regarding Ralph's mine did you have reasonable ground. for Apprehending danger?—" Yes, 1 had." - As the results of the reports of'the inspector did you sometimes advise the inspector?—" Sometimes I went .'out of my way to advise him privately." "Is it not strange then that you did not advise him to have men withdrawn from the places.you considered dangerous?—"l only advised him as I thought it was wise to do." Did you ever consider it to he your 'duty, or the duty of the Mines Department, to test the inflammability of dust in the Taupiri mines? —"From tho information we possessed at the time I did not regard it as our duty.' From the knowledge we have now it would have been wise to have done so."

Could the manager reasonably, have considered that it was not his duty to test the coal dust?—"l think he might have considered it unnecessary."

Supposing there had been as much gas in the mine before the explosion as you estimate, would there not have been sufficient to blow the shaft, and everything else to pieces?—"l.will,not venture a guess at that." .

Would you deny that if your estimate is accurate the amount of gas which was probably there before the explosion must, i-ave, .approximated; three. million horse-Dower —"I cannot say." I take it you, do not know what force would have been necessary to blow the whole mine to; pieces?—" No."

Do you.say it was a cause of fear with you that men all round were inexperienced with regard to gases?— 'lee." Did you report that to the Department? —"No, I merely regarded it as a contributing cause of danger." Some Plain Speaking. Under further examination by Mr. Traika (representing the company), Mr. Reed said he did not think this disaster would, have happened if they had bad e, decent fan and decent ventilation. Do you not think that you might have gone further than. you. did in writing to the Under-Secretary of your fears regarding the mine? —"What more could I have done except take a gun to the company?" Do you know if there are any permitted explosives used in Australian mines?—" Not that I know of." Do you still say, then, that the Taupiri Company, 'if it is unable to procure permitted explosives in Australasia, ought to close tho Extended mine because of the explosives used there ? — "Yes, and if I had the power I would close the mine to-morrow, because ycu are risking the lives of your men in it. 1A blown-out shot amongst that dust would create another holocaust. I think the company ought to be ashamed of itself for carrying on work and for Using flame-producing explosives in defiance of the inspector's orders.". Did not the inspector tell the manager that monobel was a permitted explosive?—" Yes,. but someone in the company had hoodwinked the inspector by telling him that monobel was a permitted explosive. As a matter of fact monobel No. 1 is permitted,, whilst monobel without tho number is not."

Are you sure that the representative bf the company hoodwinked Mr. Bennie? —''Yes. Mr."Bennie told me the name of the man."

And because of that you regard it as a fact?—" Yes, I do. I would believe Mr. Bennie before I would believe you or any other representative of the company." A Sharp Exchange. When the commission resumed in tho evening, Mr? Tunks continued his examination of Mr. Reed. In reply to a further query from Mr. Tunks, witness said: "If I wero mining inspector for this district I would closo down the Taupiri mines until the .company obtained safe explosives. I would prefer to save the miners' lives than to save profits for the company." You make an offensive, a particularly offensive, reference to the profits of tho company. Why do you do so? —"Becauso I consider it necessarj to speak put. It is necessary, I consider, in tho interest of. truth and justice." _ What has it to do with either?— ''Everything." Mr. Macassey (counsel for the Grown) road a memorandum from the UnderSecretary of Mines to tho Minister of Mines on tho day of the explosion. This referred to the legal opinion which was obtained by Inspector Bennie regarding his proposal to prosecute for alleged breaches of the Act. The memorandum read as follows :— - '"This shows that tho fears of the inspecting engineer with regard to this mine were well grounded, and points to the urgent necessity of proceeding with the Coal Mines Act Amending Bill." Attached to the memorandum was a note by the Minister to tho effect that ho was 'unaware till aftor the accident that his instructions to prosecute the manager had not been acted upon. The inquiry was then adjourned until to-morrow. i

THE RELIEF FUND. PALMBRSTON DONATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent,) Palmerston N., Octobor 8, The deacons of the Baptist Church at Palmerston North have decided to give tho Huntly Relief Fund tho of

all the poor boxes, and also the proceeds of the collection next Sunday. Some uncertainty exists in the minds of the local Huntly Committee as to whether to pay the funds to the comnu'tteo at Huntly or to tho National Relief Committee, which exists for tho same purposo at Auckland: In order to remove doubts, inquiries are being sent to the Auckland' body. It is believed that the concorts in view will bring tho fund to £100. MAYOR'S RELIEF FUND. £ s. d. Amount previously acknowledged 188 2 0 St. Jolin's Presbytorian i Church (portion of collec- , [ tion) .....'...: ..... 714 6 j ■ £195 16 6 TRADES HALL RELIEF FUND, The joint secretaries, Messrs. L. M, A. Reardcn and J. Read, acknowledge receipt of the following amounts :— ' £ s. d. Amount previously acknowledged 843 1 7 "Waimate' Advocate" 4 3 6 A.S.R.S., Mercer 2 00 Loco. Engino Drivers' Association, Christchurch, 10 10 0 Biddie 0 11 6 860 6 7 "THE DOMINION" RELIEF FUND. A fund for the relief of sufferers in the Huntly disaster is' now open at The Dominion Office. Wo have to acknowledge the following donations :— .. £.s. ,d. Previously acknowledged ... 30 2 0 Mrs. J. S. Jameson 0 10 0 Total .' 30 12 0