THE HUNTLY INQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 43, 7 October 1914, Page 6

THE HUNTLY INQUIRY.

DANCER WELL KNOWN TO THE DEPARTMENT. INSPJCTQR’S STARTLING EVIDENCE. [Pub Abbooiatxon. I Auckland, October 7. ■ The commission of inquiry into the disaster at Ralph’s mine at Jointly was resumed this morning. Frank Reed, inspecting engineer of mines and consulting engineer for the State opllier-ies, said that it was not 'until last Christmas that he had,, information suggesting that the Taupiri mines were dangeroiis. jfys a result of Ins inquiries Mr Fletcher, manager 'of Ralph’s mine, wrote on January 14th, giving particulars of three instances when miners had been burned. About the end qf. January witness wrote to the. ,I,Jnder r Secretary enclosing Mr Bennie’s letter reporting a breach of the law l?y tlje management of Ralph’s mine, inasmuch as gas explosions which had, caused injuries to miners had been epnceplpd by the manlagement. That letter stated the ele’merits for a colliery, disaster were all .present. Witness received no reply to that letter, but when Parliament opened witness was asked by the Under--I,Secretary, to give his opinion bn the joining Amendment! Bill. Witness, in replying, made reference to the coufditions at jßalph’s mines, and stated: “If a disaster occurs as a result of an in;\h qbafce law the inspecting branch of the Department cannot be heljl responsible.’’ Witness asked that preference he given to the amending Bill. He wrote as follows; —“I fpar a holacaust at Ralph’s mine.” He again wrote on July 29th, drawing attention to a fuming accident to a miner nan; ed IjCelly in Ralph’s mine. tie stab'd in his* letter.: V.%is accident might have feeen a seHou--, ness, of i explosions at Huntly cannot ho lightly passed over.”' Witness continued 'that he felt uneasy, pn August Il'ifh he wrote t.p the "Under-! Secretary suggesting that a prosecution would, dp good, e’yen if ifc failed owing to the obsolete Mining Act. A£ least it would show the public that the was alive to the position.