PROSECUTION UNDER THE MINES' ACT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2046, 14 September 1880, Page 3

PROSECUTION UNDER THE MINES' ACT.

[PBE FBBSS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WIBH.J WESTPORT, September 13. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Mr Binns, Inspector of Mines, prosecuted Mr Forgusßon, manager of the Wellington colliery, and Mr Young, contractor for getting out coal ; the first for not providing sufficient ventilation in the mine, and the other for not appointing competent persons to examine the mine with safety lamps each morning. Similar charges to that against Young wob also brought against Fergusson. The prosecutions were the result of an explosion of firo-damp in the Wellington mine, whereby four men, William, Daniel, and Robert Young, father and two sons, and Cotteringham, brother-in-law, were burnt to suoh an extent as to lay them up for eight days. The evidenco given before tho court as reported in the "Westport Timeß," shows that the explosion was caused by a fall of some twenty tons of coal liberating gas, and the air current not being sufficiently strong to carry it out, it was ignited by the naked lights carried by William Young. The witnesses for the proseoution, including the injured men, aver that the mine is not and never was properly ventilated, whilst the witnesses for the other side say that the ventilation is sufficient, and never was better than at the time of the accident, and that the mishap caused by the fall of coal was not preventable. Fergusson pleaded that the mine waa in charge of Young, and that he was responsible. Young pleaded guilty to the charge against him. Being an important case, Mr Kevell reserved judgment until the 21st inst.