17

H.—l6

Mr. Hodge appears to have told Mr. Binns, as he also told me a week later, when I went through the new workings of the mine, that no gas had been found, but that the men had become frightened, in consequence of a man having been burnt in Shore's pit adjoining by a blower of gas igniting. Mr. Binns, however, was so impressed with the danger of the wastes, that, on the 31st January, he reported very strongly on the subject, stating at the time that he would not be surprised at any time to hear of an explosion having occurred. This report was referred by you to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary on the 4th of February (see correspondence appended hereto) iu order to obtain authority to enforce the necessary steps to be taken to render the mine safe, by bringing the Mines Regulation Act into immediate force. Unfortunately before this authority could be obtained the explosion had occurred, and the time for precautionary measures had passed. A short time after the explosion I visited the mine again, and found that a shaft was being sunk to tbe rise of the new workings, and that repairs were being proceeded with in the tunnel; but on my recommendation this was at once stopped until the shaft was down and safety lamps obtained. It is well to state that at the time of my first visit, shortly before the explosion, a site was being selected for sinking another shaft, so as to ventilate the workings to the rise; but even had this work been completed it is very doubtful whether the catastrophe would have been averted, since the accumulation of gas in the wastes must have been very rapid, and the new system of ventilation would not in all probability have been sufficiently complete to have kept these wastes clear. A plan of the workings of this mine was kept.

COEEESPONDENCE EEFEEEED TO. 4th February, 1879. Memo, for the Under Colonial Secretary. I have the honor to submit extracts from the report of the Coal Viewer, and to beg attention to the alleged infringement of " The Eegulation of Mines Act, 1874." It appears that this Act is not yet proclaimed in force, but the provisions respecting the employment of children of tender years in mines did not require such proclamation (see clause 3), so that they are now in force. The highly dangerous condition of certain of the coal mines, according to this report, shows that some immediate action to put the above in force is urgently required. James Hector.

Extract from Mr. Binns's Beport on the Kaitangta Coal Mine, dated 31st January, 1879. Forwarded to the Hon. Colonial Secretary on the 4th February, 1879. "V. The Kaitangata mines being the only ones on this side of the Island in which explosive gas has been found, and employing a much larger number of men than the majority of the other pits, are those in which, unless the greatest care be exercised, fatal accidents must be expected; and I regret to state that, in my opinion, the Kaitangata Eailway and Coal Company's mine is by no means unlikely to be the scene of such a disaster. The coal in this pit is worked in varying thicknesses, so that in some cases huge caverns 24 feet high, and 16 to 18 feet wide, run for some considerable number of yards, and are suddenly discontinued by the roof being lowered to Bor 10 feet in height. These form most perfect reservoirs for the storage of carburetted hydrogen gas, should any be given off by the coal; and in the South Staffordshire Coalfield it has been found necessary to drive a small independent heading close to the roof of the coal for the sole purpose of ventilation. It will thus be seen that even with a current of air in circulation it is impossible to efficiently ventilate these high places and when the wastes, as at this pit, are not examined or ventilated, the sole question is this—Will the coal give off gas, and if so how long will it take to fill these places sufficiently to come pouring out, owing to some sudden fall in the atmospheric pressure, or strike either on a naked light, or the ventilating furnace? The first part of the question is answered by the manager, who says that the coal on that side of the fault will not give off gas, the second part can only be answered by time. VI. At Shore's No. 1 Kaitangata, several explosions of gas have occured, the following case was related to me by the victim—On or about November 9th, 1878, Stephen Bailey, who had been working about three months at the above pit, was employed in the main level letting off some water which had been dammed up by a fall of roof. He was working with a naked light, and (not being a practised collier) could not be expected to know where danger existed. The gas came off, fired at his candle, and he was laid up for three weeks. Mr. Shore blames Bailey, and says he ordered him to come away." Brunner Coal Mine, Greymouth. —This mine is now in full operation, their output for the past year being nearly 20,000 tons. At the end of the stonehead inflammable gas is given off in bubbles from the water, but the ventilation there is very good and every precaution appears to be taken to prevent accidents. The company are not in possession of a plan of their workings of a later date than April 1878. The ventilation generally is very good. Coal Pit Heath. Greymouth. —This colliery, like the Brunner Mine, is in active work. But little timber is used, as pointed out last year, and Mr. Binns reports that, at the end of the main drive, where some trifling irregularities in the lie of the coal were met with, the road was 31 feet wide, with a diagonal slip in the roof. Mr. Geary, the manager, has however, promised to set some timbers there. The ventilation is good, although there are several difficulties to contend with ; the return airway is the channel for a considerable volume of water, and this oflcourse cools the air, and at the time of Mr. Binns's visit the temperature at the bottom of the shaft was 57£ °Fahr., while on the surface the thermometer stood at 63 °Fahr.