THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 198, 25 September 1914, Page 11

THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

INQUEST ON VICTIMS. ' PROFESSOR DIXON' S VIEWS. Press Association. HUNTLY, September 24. At the inquest on the victims of the explosion, Prof essor Dixon, who was unable to be present till Saturday, gave a written opinion, in which he stated that, though it was not possible at present to locate the origin of the explosion, the main loss of life was due to the inflammation of coal dUst' lying on the roads. Parts of the road were wet, but a dust cloud was carried by the blast over the wet places, and the flame of the burning dust cloud ignited the dust beyond until it reached the shaft. He was of opinion that it would be advisable in future work in this and similar seams to use safety lamps, preferably modern electric lamps. Until such lamps were procurable he considered that it would be safe to work with naked lights provided that strict tests were made for fire damp before the miners entered and that dust in the main roads was rendered uninflammable either by systematic watering or by systematic admixture with finely divided inert dust, such as powdered shale, limestone, or fuller's earth. It would not be possible to prevent some minor ignitions .of fire damp occurring, but he believed it was possible and practicable to prevent such small inflammations developing into destructive explosions such as that which caused the disastrous loss of life at Huntly. Professor Dixon further said: —"The damping of coal dust by finely divided water sprays (an atomiser is most effective) is also a sure means of preventing coal dust being raised. A combination of., inert dusting -and spraying may be used, the inert dust being thrown on to the roof, where it is sometimes impossible for water to go. Safety depends on either preventing a dust cloud being raised or'in rendering such clouds as are raised uninflammable by diluting combustible .with incombustible particles. The quantity of inert dust to be added depends, of course, on the amount of coal dust made in the. mine. It is fine dUst blown off and shaken out of tubs in haulage that is most dangerous, and to this must be added in many cases the fact that it is down the screens on.the surface, down the downcast shaft, and deposited on the haulage roads. In the case of Ralph's ; mine, where the roofs are good throughout, most of the watering would be very easy to carry out. In a few places inert dust might be used where watering would be difficult.'' HUNTLY SAFE. John Macgill, deputy, who had had 45 years' experience in 12 different mines, said that he had never been in one safer than Huntly, which was considerably safer than Brunner. . Thomas Edward Webb, who had been 30 years a miner, said there was only one mine safer to his knowledge —that was the Elms Colliery, Wigan, where naked lights used, . Safety lamps were in general use throughout England, but the men -vvere. Usually the first objectors to -safeties,,' as-by their us<S work was macle slowfcr and the freedom was less. He had examined every porr tion of Ralph's, and never found anf trace of gas in! a .working face. - i Mr Fletcher, the mine manager, recalled at the request of the jury, stated that the company had no life-saving applian. rs at the time of the explosion*. They had an ambulance box on top and below. He knew of' no mine in the Dominion, except Waihi, ■ where life-saving apparatus was kept. As far as he could learn, life-saving appliances were only in their infancy, and from what he had read more lives, had been lost by the users of such appliances than had been saved. At this stage Police Inspector Wright

asked for an adjournment till September 30, .to enable a thorough inspection of the mine to be made by experts to try and locate the seat of the explosion. Mr Macassey, representing the Mines Department, said there was no power in the present Act to compel the use of safety lamps in mines. Provision, however, would be made in the new Act. The solicitor for the company said that there was not the slightest suggestion of incompetence or lapse of duty on the part of the Government inspector. The enquiry was adjourned t6 September 30. The official enquiry will be opened on October 1. WORK RESUMED. Press Association. HAMILTON, September 25. There was a large meeting of miners at Huntly last night to discuss the recommendations of the deputation appointed to approach the employers to resume work to-day, pending a settlement of the demands for all-round increases. The matter was argued at great length. The chairman (Mr S. Dixon), who is president of the union, pointed out that the directors promised that when a settlement was reached, they would make the increase retrospective to the time of resumption. There were about 300 men in. the building when the motion for resumption was put, and about 70 voted for i't, and 20 against. The remainder abstained from voting. When the whistle blew this morning 200 of the 230 men employed at the Extended mine resumed. Ralph's mine will not open for some tiine, owing to the repairs and necessary safeguards against further explosions not being completed. RELIEF FUND. The Mayor has received a letter from the Executive of the Huntly Relief Fund giving particulars of the dependents of the miners. It has beeii decided to open a relief fund at the Sumner Borough Council Chambers, where the Town Clerk will be pleased to receive donations. The Mayor (Mr G. W. C. Smithson) has donated £1 1/-. The joint secretaries of the Christchurch Huntly Relief Fund acknowledge receipt of a parcel of children's Clothing from Miss Rolleston. Mr J. Robertson, M.P., lias telegraphed the local committee: "Regarding Huntly. Urgent relief has been sent. Have been there twice. Relief well in hand now. Get your committee working for general fund." The Kaiapoi Working Men's Club Committee has voted £5 to the Huntly Relief Fund. The Mayoress will be pleased if all women willing to assist in promoting j the objects of the fund will meet at the [ City Council Chambers at 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. : THE WOMEN'S MEETING. Mrs Holland and Mrs TV E. Taylor, in | whose hands the matter of organising a meeting of women was left, are dping as much preliminary work as possible, so Ithat something definite in the way of plans and suggestions can be'tabled for the consideration of the meeting. It is to be hoped that everyone who can possibly do so will make a point of attending. TO-DAY'S RECEIPTS. ', The Christchurch Huntly Relief Fund has received the following additional contributions:—*- .

E.A.S. (Sumner) .. .. 0 10 6 Mrs E.A.S 1 1 0 W. Devenish Meares 5 0 0 T. J. Edmonds .. .. 5 0: 0 f.r,a: .. .... .... 2 2 0 .! i 1 0 .. • i 0 0 Mrs- G. A. E. Ross :.■ l 0 0 i—»' 1 0 Total to date .:;■- i88 1 6