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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 24 September 1914, Page 4

UNKNOWN

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GOVERNMENT IMBP»OTOJ«J THREAT OP PBD6BCUTJOR.

MINOR EXPLOSION «JUOT

REOXNTLY.

B J Telegraph.—Prgg« A»so»ifctfen. Huntly, Last JJigM. The Court wag crowded whea the Inquest opened.

James Fletcher, geHeral manager ol the Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., said that on the day of the explosioi he was not in charge, being incapacitated at floe time. He appointed William Gowaos (is deputy-manager. Gowans was one of the victims of the explosion. The day of the explosion waß an off-day at the mine, and actually six workings were in operation. In compliance with the Coal Mines Act, the whole of the workingplates were examined each morning by three competent persons, who entered within two hours prior to the main body of men commencing work. The reports of three examining deputies for that morning were found in the Office in the mine. They Bhowed that the barometer registered from 37 to 37% degrees in different parts of the mine, aid the thermometer from 48 to 49. All three re'porte stated that tie roffidh were sate at 7 a.m., and the ventilation good. The deputies always carried safety-lamps on their daily inspection. No agtaal mining was done that morning, the men descending merely to gtraightea up the tunnels. About three tourg of the old workings were made continuously by an inspector specially appointed. His last report, on the 11th, stated that all was well, there being no falls, whilg the ventilation was good.

Witness stated that firedamp had been found in small quantities on several occasions "in pockets." The lest occasion was on -August 17th, when Inspector Weir reported that he found diluted gas in No. 4, which was dispersed its made by the air current. Gas of this nature was usually caused by a fall. Witness •onsidored the mines fairly immune from firedamp unless a tig fall occurred. On July 9th, William Kelly, one of t&w victims, wos working in No. 8 etoae overhead drive, a short distance from a pothole that was bleeding gas. He went to the pot-#»lc for a drink, aid having a naked light on his head, he ignited ion t3io accumulation of gafl was caused His hair was singed, and 3ie was off work for H days. This particular seetion was examined at 8 a.m. on the same day, asd found 6afe. A good current of air was going through the drive, and a request was made to. Deputy Darby by one of the contractors to reduce the current, as the men complained of the eold. The request was refused. In witness's opinion the accomulation of gas was eaused By the disarrangement of the 7e*tilation, because of the air intake pipe being blocked by a brattice clotfhl He «on•idered the men had found the working* too cold to be comfortable, and iad blocked the pipe. The whole incident was reported to the Geverament inspector. During the four yeara witness had been engaged at the mines, ♦he accident to Kelly was the osljy ene of this nature, bo far as witness eould recollect. He had never received eemplaints from an man working li tffte mine of an accumulation of gas, and had no reason to suspect that gas was la the mine in dangerous quantities. Continuing his evidence, Mr Meteher said that on August 28 signs ol heating were noticeable in the old workings, and on a search being made the trouble was located. The eonditions were reported normal at midnight There had been no other signs of Ihcatiag, execpt on one occasion, for tea weeks previously.

'Witness admitted receiving ft letter from Government Inspector Beanie regarding the dangerous condition oi the mine, particularly in the old workings and the imam drive, owing to the accui mulation of dry dust. The lettei instructed the company to immediately undertake the spraying of the dust with water to remove the danger. The letter added: "Although I previously warned the company of this danger, little or nothing has been done to comply with She request regarding spraying in the old workings." In view of the awident to Kelly, Inspector Bennie requested that shot-firers be appointed as required by special rule 25, and that the accumulation of dry coal dust be dealt with in aa adequate and proper manner. The report concluded: "Failure to comply with my request will be followed by proseoution for breaches of the A«t." On August 25 the company received an intimation from Inspector Bennie that it might be necessary to insist oa the use of safety lamps. Replying to Inspector Wright, the witness said the spraying was done regularly in the main shaft, but it was aot eansidered necessary to spray the old working*. Asked if he load any theory tUI to low the explosion occurred, witness repliad in the negative. The company, lie said, •arried its own insurance risks.

Continuing, Fletcher said that 11 the mea had expressed a desire foi (wfetykmpe they could have had them. One hundred electric safety-lamps had teen ardared by the company A while ago, and none but safety-lamps would be used in future. The mine was «oasid*r«d a damp and cool one.

A awnber of the men who succeeded ie twaping uninjured stated that the working* seemed as usual on the morntag of the explosion. All declared that th«y had previously found it (free of gut, though the majority had noticed dry «oal dust in varying quantities at dilr«re»t places. Th» inquest adjourned till to-morrow.

tANOTHER BODY RECOVERED. Kuntly, Wednesday. TBo Body of Thomas Berry, enginedriver, i,ged 29, was recovered from the Hmtly nime this morning. So far as is know* only one body, that of WilUun graith, deputy, aged 60, married, is ■ow below. John Jackson, aged 20, a olifjer, siigle, one of the three injured men taken to the Waikato Hospital, di«d this morning. The other injiired man, Alfred Feckham, junr., is making a alow recovery. Young Jackson'o death makes the third victim in the Jackson family—the father and two sons. Altogether 40 bodies have been recovered. There have been two deaths in the hospital, and ono body is still entombed. MBN DEMAND" INCREASE OF WAGES A RJFUSAL AXD A STRIKE. Huntly, Wednesday. Tie Extended Mine, in which about 2W men are usually employed, should foave started work this morning, but the miners refused to recommence operations unless they were granted an ineCease. of from 2s 7d to 3 s per ton, as foojr declare ihe compulsory use of will reduce their puiput

[ 'ASKED TO RESIGU. , %f§ I ?*J Ey Telegraph.—Press Association. _ t \ Huntly, Last Night.'' At a meeting of 100 member* of tfc« Huntly Miners' Union last night, at j which Messrs Semple and Webb irera present, it was decided to request Mr fituart Dixon, the president, who gecured a verdict of £IOOO damages in a recent libel action against the Maoriland Worker, together with all the member* of the executive, to resign.- _ ,