THE SHAG POINT COAL MINE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 July 1880, Page 2

THE SHAG POINT COAL MINE.

. (by. telegraph.) (from our, own correspondent. ) ■ Wellington July 16. The report of Mr. Bijins, Inspector of Mines, upon the condition of the Shag Point Coal Miae, has been laid upon the table of the Legislative Council. The report states that, every .recognised principle of ventilation is disregarded, and that the men are not supplied with cool and fresh air. On the 2nd' instant,, there, was; only half enough air in the mine for' the men. The directors of the Company have expressed their desire to have the mine properly ventilated, and the recommendations will be "carried out with all speed. The following ,is the postsoript to the report " l4no'ther great disadvantage to ventilation is the - existence .pf jobfire in the old .vorkings. ' This is the cause of the illness of the men .which gave rise to the recent report ;al?9.ut* rnen. being carried out. These fires' ark .'the., most--difficult things to deal with, and are ; less understood than any other' phenomenon connected with'miiii'ngf. One has existed in the Shag Point Mine for many years,, and as was mentioned in former'reports, an effort has been made to Extinguish it by pumping in the sea. As predicted, this attempt has failed. -I Unfortunately : this fire has been allowed to communicate with the present workingsj'.and.'the stinH has come off to such an extent as to incapacitate some men : from working. ...It produces nausea and violent headache—as I can testify from experience in .England - and vomiting and total,, prostration. On my last visit, pn. be ineffectually shut off. ~ ,There is no •danger of T explosion.; . The, only a'scer'tained way to cure these,;fires is by the application acid.§as, manufac-, tured .fire ( itself or by 'the ordinary , of ..pumping. , This has been agreed' to be" done. If this fire is -not effectually'shut offj 'it; will'be an everendangering'bauSe of troubls'and ahnpy,ance>—Geo: Einns."; ■ :. ■ : J