Huntly S.M. Court.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 31 July 1914, Page 2

Huntly S.M. Court.

FRIDAY. Mr E. Rawson, S.M., Presiding. Four miners working in the Extended Mine were charged that on the 6th of July they did take for use into the workings of the Extended Mine an explosive known as gelignite without the same being securely enclosed in a covered case or canister, such action being contrary to Section 40 Clause D of the Coal Mines Act, 1908. The information was laid by Mr W. Wood, manager of the Extended Mine, Mr J. F. Fletcher , general manager, appearing for the company. Mr Fletcher pointed out that the promiscuous use of ail ex plosives of this nature was attended with the gravest danger, and it was only lately that he had been informed by the Railway Department that five detonators had been found enclosed in a tin match box in a truck of Taupiri Extended coal despatched to Waihi. Had these been struck in handling or had they been placed on a fire, considerable damage might have been done to property or even to life. As a result of such information extra vigilance had been exercised, and two of the defendants iiad been found with gelignite in their pockets, one with nine plugs and the other with six. The punishment, as a rule, was instant dismissal, but. owing to the intercession of the officials of the Miners’ Union, the men were allowed to resume work, but were told that proceedings would be taken. Mr A. Penman, deposed to finding the gelignite in the clothing of two of the men. Two of the defendants pleaded guilty and two not guilty; but the Magistrate convicted the four each of whom was fined two pounds and seven shillings costs. Mr Rawson in deciding stated in effect that the four men were working mates, and that the two who pleaded guilty had aone so in order to exonerate their partners. In his opinion all were equally guilty, the four being cognisant of the fact that die explosive in question had been taken into the mine in the manner described in the charge. The same men, charged under Special Rule 25, Clause C, of the Coal Mines Act, 1908, with using blasting material without permission from the manager of the .same mine, were convicted dLehn vie ted and failing to a^H |H mm himself machine, an^H SB : Hfl dant was the native, ■ .c/” tiiat offences^B the future pose more se^H