SEALED UP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 321, 7 October 1908, Page 6

SEALED UP.

NOXIOUS GASES IN A MINE. AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE. (BIT TELEUUAI'U—I'KESS ASSOC' ATIOX.) Dunedin, October 6. Owing to the wholesale liberation of noxious and deadly gases, the Allaudale Cual Mine has been temporarily closed down. There has been trouble brewing for some months, and oh Monday is was found necessary to order all hands above ground. At one stage of development it was resolved by tho owners to replace the steam plant with electricity. A long delay took place in importing pumping apparatus from Britain, and water Hooded the old workings. Wlibn the water had been removed it was discovered that a portion of the coal in the old workings was "sweating." The location of the area, where the sweating was taking placo was a difficult matter, but eventually it - was found to be in the centre of the wbrked-out portion. Oil Monday the men assembled for tho first shift, but tho manager decided there was too large a quantity of white damp to allow the mine to be safe, and work 'for that day was suspended. The manager (ill': Wostiifeld) and two dbpiities (Messrs. ilowe and Stevenson) tlibn wont down the mine to investigate, and had an exciting experience. They set to work to seal up the passage giving access to tho area whence the gases came, but after working for a while were affected Uy white damp; The deputies were affected first, but when the manager suggested the : abandonment of tho task they demurred; and eventually thoy had to be forced away. The manager -was then confronted with a big .problem. Tho tunnel bringing a fresh supply of air into the miuo from the ventilating shaft was only a few yards away, and he might easily seek t safety there; but poisonous gas was pouring into the mine, and three men were repairing the pump about half a mile away. By this time the deputies were almost inert. Tho manager put both of his limp companions in a truck, and, by running at full speed, reached tlie other nten. All the men wore at onco withdrawn) arid the mina sealed up. The present workings, will, be stopped, and the work carried on in a new part, of the mine.