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Dangerous Occurrences Linton Mine.—On 31st January, 1947, at 4.30 p.m., the deputy reported smoke coming from a stopping in No. 2 Rise Panel, No. 8 Section, No. 1 Mine. Three temporary stoppings, part erected, were completed, and the permanent stoppings later erected. Linton Mine.—On 28th February, 1947, a slight smell from the gob was reported at the lower pillar, No. 7 Section, No. 1 Mine. The men were withdrawn while the sealing operations were under way, and permanent stoppings were later erected. Newburn Mine, Mount Somers. —On 15th April, 1947, signs of heating were discovered in a dead end of a level; a temporary wooden stopping was erected, and this was followed by a sand-bag stopping. Linton Mine.—On 19th April, 1947, the manager reported that the fire from the old Horse Level had crept around the outcrop coal towards the portal of the Horse Level Mine. Preparations were made and the coal removed by opencast methods to cut off encroachment. Linton Mine.—On 22nd April, 1947, owing to a large accumulation of CH 4 (2,000 cubic feet) being discovered in the goaf in the pillars at the bottom of No. 8 Section, No. 1 Mine, which it was impossibleto clear, this goaf was sealed off. Mossbank Mine.—On 14th May, 1947, the district manager reported an outbreak of fire which occurred at a permanent stopping situated between the coal-dip haulage road and the upthrow fault, to the north of the mine. The fire had originated in an old roadway, recently sealed on account of suspected heating, and following a fracture in the coal had come round the stopping. The Rescue Brigade was commissioned, and the mine was idle for two days while temporary and then permanent stoppings were erected near the site and in four roads suspected of communicating with the affected roadway. The district manager in his final report recorded his appreciation of the services rendered by the Officer in Charge, Rescue Station, and his willing team. No further trouble has been experienced since the fire was sealed. Birchwood Mine.—On 27th May, 1947, the manager reported that owing to a smell of gob-stink coming through an opening left in the return-side stopping in lower No. 1 Dip pillared area the area was completely sealed by two permanent stoppings. Rescue Brigade men were standing by in case of emergency while the sealing was in progress. Birchwood Mine. —On 9th June, 1947, CH 4 was discovered leaking at a stopping recently erected to seal off the main dip completed section. The accumulation was cleared, the leak sealed, and permanent stoppings erected. Fernhill Mine. —On 29th September, 1947, the manager reported evidence of heating discovered in an area of No. 4 Mine. Two stoppings were erected to seal the area, and no further trouble has been experienced. Wangaloa Mine. —On 10th October, 1947, on account of fire threatening, it was decided to shift the pump and seal the dip below the main return, as in all probability the fire is drawing air from the surface. Following the extraction of the remaining two dip pillars the mine finished in December. Wairaki Mine. —On 13th November, 1947, the district manager reported indications of heating in the dip goaf area No. 1 Mine, discovered by the examining deputy. As all preparations had been made for such an emergency, the mine was idle and the stoppings were quickly completed to effectively seal the area. The Officer in Charge of the Rescue-station and men were in attendance, and an inspection of the mine, together with the taking of tests for CO, were made, a slight trace of monoxidebeing observed in the return airway. Although no CH 4 had been reported for a considerable time, as a precautionary measure the mine was idle for forty-eight hours following the completion of the sealing, and coal-production did not commence until the following Monday, the 17th. Linton Mine.—On 29th November, 1947, a heating was discovered in the opencast coal near the mouth of No. 1 Mine (a repetition of what occurred on 19th January). Water was applied, and a cut is being put in the coal to isolate the small block of opencast coal. Prosecution A trucker, Andrew Morrison Carson, employed in the Kaitangata Mine, was prosecuted on 26th February, 1947, for a breach of section 98 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925. Carson, a youth of eighteen years, had in his possession on 22nd October, 1946, a match; the circumstances surrounding the incident pointed to it being purely accidental, and a small penalty was sought, Carson being fined £1 and 10s. costs. Ohai Rescue Brigade The Officer in Charge and his men have rendered valuable services on several occasions during the year, details of which were— Mossbank Mine : 14th May, sealing off fire. Birchwood Mine : 26th May, sealing a heating ; 19th May, examination of suspected of CO from stoppings ; sth September, examination of old fire area with view to reopening and 7th September, resealing the area when heating was present. Linton Mine : 17th October, recovery of body of deputy from fouled area, taking samples as. requested, and assisting Inspector of Mines. Wairaki Mine : 13th November, sealing off fire. Old Nightcaps Co. Workings : 13th December, exploring on area of these old workings, at request of Inspector, where opencast operations had opened a section filled with foul gasses. The Officer in Charge has also assisted with the examination for Gas-testing Certificates and, re-examination at five-year period, and in the preparation and maintenance of equipment. Ten new men were trained during the year, and the Station register is now 38 trained men.

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