DOBSON EXPLOSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 137, 13 June 1927, Page 12

DOBSON EXPLOSION.

INQUIRY BY COMMISSION. MINERS GIVE OPINIONS. OFFICIALS OVERWORKED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, Sunday. The inquiry into the Dobson mine disaster was continued yesterday. John Ford, miner, said he worked in No. 2 dip the day before the explosion, and had no suspicion of danger when he left that night. He was not satisfied with the methods of shot-firing used at the mine, and when shots were fired he left for a place of refuge. This dip was very dusty and dangerous. Conditions had improved in the last six months, but they did not compare well with those in British mines, in which witness had worked. Officials at Dobson were overworked. A fortnight before the disaster Black and Marshall told witness that a fan had caught fire, Marshall stating that sparks flew when a deputy tried to turn on electricity. Mine "Very Gassy." An explosion in No. 2 dip could extend up the main stone drive. Every miner should be able to test his own place for gas, said witness. He had found gas in Nos. 1 and 3 dips. In his opinion the mine was very gassy. Deputies should only have to do inspection work. The Dobson shot-firers were reliable. The deputies and underviewers there had to fire shots, but should not have to do such work. There was considerable "grunching" done, causing extra dust. Witness said he saw only one search made for matches and tobacco on men. Coal dust was mainly responsible for the violence of the explosion. Thomas Reid, miner, said that at 9.40 o'clock on the night before the explosion he encountered gas, and consequently he left his place and told Deputy Little, who did not examine the place, to which witness did not return before knocking off work. Flames from a Motor. Robert Marshall said that two weeks before the disaster his father told him flames three or four feet long were seen coming from a motor. James Ford said his place was free of gas the night before the explosion. Shots were well fired. He knew of no men working in gas, and had no suspicion of anyone smoking. No. 2 dip was dusty to the top. He had no idea where the explosion occurred. George Little, who was in charge of the 3 to 11 p.m. shift on December 2, said an inspection of the working places after "crib" revealed no trace of gas. The inquiry was adjourned.