HUNTLY MINE DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 38, 1 October 1914, Page 6

HUNTLY MINE DISASTER.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. IPm Press Association.] Huntly, October 1. The Government Commission of enquiry into the Huntly disaster was formally opened to-day, the Co.n■missioners being Messrs Burgees, Brown and Dowgray. The Company is represented by Air Tonks, the Ralph trustees by Mr W. Napier, the Mines. Department by Mr Masassey, the Taupiri Miners’ Union by Messrs Newton and Wilford, and the New Zealand Miners’ Union by Mr Gould. The report of the Commission will be handed to the Minister on November Ist. Hie proceedings will probably last a. week. lo avoid the inconvenience of two enqu-.. ies sitting together, the Commission adjourned till to-morrow, when the inquest will be completed. / RESUMPTION OF INQUEST. The inquest was resumed this morning. « . J Professor Dixon, continuing his evidence, said that probably only a few hundred feet of gas was necessary to start an explosion. Asked if he connected the seismic disturbance at White Island with the explosion, he said he did not know enough about the geological formation of New Zealand coalfields to give an opinion. He did not know of any instances of earth tremors connected with pit explosions. Only in recent years had the 'xpdosion of coal dust been investigated, and very few managers wore aware of the dust danger. Questioned by the jury, Professor Dixon said the hydrogen lamp Was more delicate for testing than the ordinary safety, but he doubted whether there was one in New Zealand. ; Asked big opinion, of the life-saving apparatus, he said 'that in Lancashire there were stations where men were specially trained to use the apparatus. A contingent was always ready for an emergency. He suggested' that tin? New Zealand Government should establish a central station for training experienced miners to use the apparatus. It was remarkable, he sail, that with such an accumulation of 1 coal dust at Ralph’s, the explosion cid not occure loefore. Two and a half per bent, of gas was not dange ous in itself, the explosive point being 5.6. All Evidences point to the initiation of the' explosion being due to the presence of gas. Clear gas had sinco 3ome in considerable quantity r'on the' point of- origin. ,