THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 113, 6 October 1914, Page 8

THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY Bv telegraph.—Press Association. ™ n ■ Au «kl'and, Ijaat Night. the Commission of Enquim- into fie nunmg disaster at Huiitly continued its sittings at Huntly, when a. great deal or evidence was heard. Several deputies were called, one of whom said he was quite satisfied that the ■mine was very well ventilated and the air good. It had never been wr grated that he should take an air test Had thwe boon a large accumulation of gas overhead in a board over 7ft hig'i he thought he would liave found it tl • d:d not thing gas could remain stationary m the roof and not mix with air. Jas. Fletcher, general manager of th-' Taupiri mines, and manager of Ralph's said to reply to Mr. Wilford that tin' watering in the mine was done by Hugh Ransome, one of the victims, who was?! 3 years of ago. Mr. Wilford: Was the appliance used a kerosene tin in a wheelbarrow?—Y.w and piping. ' ' ' Will you swear that the travellin" way had been watered on the mornin" of the disaster—'No; it could not have been. None of the men who were lost li*d started work.

Did you ever hena- of an occasion when, there was an' explosion which put out all the lights, of the men in a e.;r tain portion of the mine?—;T know'W an ignition of gas two years ago, but hot of any lights being put out. Did you ever -hear of a miner gcltin." lis boots burnt?—' Never.

I suppose you admit that lUhih's i= a gaseous mine?—No; Ido not, 1 consider it a mine free from gas. Do you, for instance, know of men igniting gas from bore-holes?—No; if that occurred it was never reported io me.

Witness Raid h a did not know of eertain men b-ing kept out of one of the. workings until rt was cleared of gas bv n deiputy on Ausin-t a>. Two men did not report gas to hinu The air w.v, bad on that day, through, a culvart being disturbed.

Did you report this to Ihei inspector? —^No.

Tr tho presieut main sluaft at Ealjih's safe?— Yes; perfectly. To Mr. Dowgray:' He bid every re-i----snn to fneli.ve lliat his deputies' w«-r<. conscientious men. T'n to the morning of the accident he luul t.lnm.'jht the mir.i'. u ?nfe on*-. Tu view of wliat lwd 'i-M>-jiened, however, hti umv thoupilit it >■ oivld be better to use safeiv 'lawns; at any rite, until further ventilation was provided.