DANGEROUS ACT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4771, 3 November 1924, Page 2

DANGEROUS ACT.

EXPLOSIVES NEAR FORGE. ‘ A SERIOUS OFFENCE. At the Paeroa Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., Matthew Paul, mining inspector, of Waihi, proceeded against James Robert Lee, miner, Karangahake, for taking into, a blacksmith's shop an open canister containing 16 plugs of gelignite and six primers with detonators and fuses attached, on October 9. A similar charge was also laid against S. S. Ratliff, miner, Karangahake. The two cases were taken together, and there was no appearance of either of the defendants. Mr M. Paul, mining inspector, said that he had visited the blacksmith’s shop, which was situated at the entrance to the tunnel. The defendants were working at a forge, and sparks were flying in all directions. The - canister did not have any covering over it. and had a spark, ignited the gelignite the two men would have been hilled, and it would have been a difficult matter to ascertain what had caused the explosion. Witness said that both miners were experienced men and shou ! (Jd have known better. He did not press for the maxi-, mum penalty, but the practice was obviously a dangerous one, and in the interests of miners generally the provisions of the Act should be carried out. The Magistrate said that the offence was a serious one. The Mining Act had been framed to protect the miners themselves, and it was their duty to make themselves familiar with it. The case before him was a glaring one. and the defendants’ action was foolhardy. It was not a case for a nominal penalty, and each defendant would be convicted and fined £3, with costs 14s.