The Cause.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, 18 September 1914, Page 2

The Cause.

The causes suggested to account for the explosion by the man in the street are as varied as they are contradictory. The mine manager and the directors of the company declare the accident to bo incomprehensible. The initial exciting cause, and the locale of the explosion are alike unknown, whil the ignition of the coal dust following is, as explained by Professor Dixon^^e

The proceeds of the entertainment to be given by the natives of Rakaumanga will go towards the Relief Fund and not to the Empire Defence Fund as originally intended. This entertainment unique in its kind, will be held in the King’s Hall on the i Evening of Monday, 28th. inst. i The Patriotic Picture Concert which was to have been held in the Miner’s Hall last Tuesday Sept 15th., was postponed owing to the dire calamity which has overtaken Huntly. It is most probable that this concert will be for the Huntly Relief Fund and all tickets already sold for the former will be honored when the entertainment is decided upon. Further notice will be given in due course. The mining community is under a deep debt of gratitude to Mr T. Briton who so kindly and generously gave the King’s Hall as a mortuary chamber for for the bodies of those killed in the recent mine accident, and to think that the hall should suffer in consequence is wrong and as cruel as it is undeserved. The very fact that the bodies of relatives had lain there until they were removed to their last earthly resting place should make the King’s Hall more sacred, and give it a deserving place in the affections of the bereaved. The hall has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and Mr Bennett, Inspector of Health, will fumigate it to-day with formalin, so that nothing has been left undone in the effort to cope with the situation. The natives,who recognise the man a of the maori '‘royal family 44 have been very anxious as to the whereabouts of the party that went home to lay their grievances before King George, such party comprising “Kingi 4 ’ Te Rata Mahuta, Tupu Taingakawa, his prime-minister, M Clark, and the interpreter, G G Paul. As they were due in Auckland some time ago Mr PauTs cable to the High Commissioner elicited the information that the party got as far as Gibralter in the S.S. Otway, when, on account of the war and i the delay of the steamer, the i party returned to England. They made a fresh start in S. S. Nestor, i which is due to arrive at i Sydney on the 20th inst. It is • hoped that the party will be able to connect with the Niagara for i Auckland, and thus reach the Dominion about the 25th, of the i present week.