THE DOBSON DISASTER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVIII, Issue 10943, 15 June 1927, Page 4

THE DOBSON DISASTER

«♦« —■ THE INQUIRY CONTINUED. EX-MANAGER'S EVIDENCE. (Per Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, June 14. The Dobson mine inquiry was resumed this morning. Walter Leitch, ex-manager of the mine, who was on leave at the time of the disaster, said that one pound of coal dust to 300 cubic feet was sufficient to cause an explosion. He did not think there was sufficient coal dust in the Dobson mine to cause an explosion. Some time before the disaster he had it in mind that the mine should be stone dusted, and endeavoured to get a supply. Witness said he did not remember receipt of a letter from the Mines Department in November threatening lk> take action unless the regulations regarding coal dust were complied with. Mr Kimbell, Under-Secretary or Mines, interjected: "I don't understand yet why you did not have the mine stone dusted to comply with tne regulations." ~, Witness replied that he did not think the mine was in a dangerous state. He did not succeed in getting stone dust when he sought for it. They had not got it at the btate mine. He did not then "know that he could get inert matter for the purpose at Ross. He only took one sample of coal dust.. The mme six months before the disaster was so, small that witness did not think at that time the regulations applied to it in tnat respect. Searching of the men was ineffective if they wanted tocarrv anything in. If Hughes received a letter from the Department regarding stone dusting, it _ was his dirty to carry the instructions out. Witness swore he never saw the letter. It was the manager's duty to see that the lamps were taken from the mine*