THE KEMBLA DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 121, 23 May 1903, Page 3

THE KEMBLA DISASTER.

REPORT OF COMMISSION. NAKED LIGHTS RESPONSIBLE. PER PKESS ASSOCIATION. Sydney, Muy 22. The R"iyal Commission appointed to enquire into the Mount Kembla dis ister, fi id that it was ciuaed by the falling in of thirty-five acres of waste, which drove an iiflimmable mixture ef firedamp and air down to the right main level in the northern extremity. Tbe mass r;ached a wheeler's ligh l ; in an over diluted state, but as soon as the mixture was rich enough to burn, it came in contact with a light. A flish of flame ran bick, starting the destructive action by igniting the wh 1j body, which was made more violently expljsive by tbe presence of coal dus"; raised by the first blast. Thus the centre of the force showed itself at the centre of the explosion, not at the ignition po\n f . This conclusion is at variance witlj the coronial fiudiug. The Comaaissum found that tbei work of inspection of wares was p:r-1 functory; iasteid of beiog perform d weekly it was p fo: med monthly. The Com mission thought that Rogers, whose duty it was to see that this was dote, was deserving of, censire. It was regrettable th it this breica of ihe rules had' escaped the notice of the Government Inspectors, The use of naked lights is condemned and therfpor; declares tbatit could be said with absolute cartainty that if they had not been used tha disaster wou d have bsen printed. I