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ANXEXURE B RESCUE STATIONS: ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1949 (F. Duffy, Superintendent, Mines Rescue Stations) Once again I have to report that the Officers in Charge of the four main rescue stations carried ■out their duties in a very creditable manner, rendering valuable service to the coal-mining industry. Trained rescue brigades also rendered good service in making inspections of suspected heatings in various mines and dealing with mine fires. Due to their efforts, a fairly large amount of coal and mine plant have been saved. The four rescue stations were kept in good order, both inside and outside. The Rotowaro and Ohai Stations were renovated during the year. The whole of the Proto apparatus and other mine rescue equipment were well maintained. Five complete sets of Protos, inhalator, oxygen pump, and the necessary spares were installed .at the Reefton School of Mines and are kept in readiness for any emergency that may arise in that •district. All mine rescue apparatus at Liverpool Colliery is ready for any emergency. The mine rescue vans were kept ready at all times in case of emergency calls. Dobsost Rescue Station Number of trained men on register .. .. .. .. .. 65 Number of team practices .. .. .. .. .. .. 65 Number of individual man practices .. .. .. .. .. 339 Resignations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Number of emergency calls .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 The following were the emergency calls received during the year:— Central Mine, Reefton. —On 2nd June, 1949, a telephone message was received from the minemanager requesting that an inspection be made of an area that had been sealed off due to heating. Three trained men wearing Proto apparatus made the inspection. It was discovered that some of the stoppings were leaking. These were attended to and made airtight. Central Mine, Reefton.—On 11th June, 1949, the three rescue teams in the Reefton district made a further inspection of the fire area. After the inspection it was decided to remove one of the fire stoppings that was giving trouble and erect a new one further inbye. This was done, and by so doing it allowed a better inspection to be made of all the fire stoppings. All three teams wore the apparatus alternately until the new stopping was completed. Each team wore the apparatus for one and a half hours. Bellvue Mine, Eight-mile.—On 7th October, 1949, the mine-manager reported that smoke was •discovered in the return airway, and he requested the services of trained rescue men to make an inspection of the mine. Two trained men wearing Proto apparatus made the inspection and located the smoke coming from old workings. Three stoppings were erected and the area was successfully sealed off. Btiller Rescue Station Number of trained men on register .. .. .. .. 35 Number of men trained during the year .. .. .. 3 Number of resignations during year .. .. .. .. 5 Number of man practices during year .. .. .. .. .. 243 Call outs .. .. .. .. .. .. _ _ ' Practices and refresher courses were carried out at the rescue station and at all the large mines in the district, especially around the fire stoppings at Millerton, Denniston, and Fly Creek Mine, Stockton. Refresher courses in first aid were also held in the rescue station in the evenings and were attended mostly by members of the rescue brigades. Ohai Rescue Station Number of trained men on register .. .. .. .. .. 3] Number of new trainees .. .. .. .. .. _' jjil Number of individual man practices .. .. .. .. .. 145 Emergency Calls Star Colliery. 27th January, 1949 : Sealing off fire area. Proto apparatus (precautionary). Star Colliery.—sth February, 1949 : Erection of brattice to ventilate reopened area. Proto apparatus used. Two men. Star Colliery.—7th February, 1949 : Sealing off heating. Two men with Proto apparatus

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