HUNTLY MINE DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2272, 5 October 1914, Page 4

HUNTLY MINE DISASTER

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, October 4. The Commission of Inquiry into thd Huntly disaster' continued the hearing of evidence at Huntly yesterday. Professor H. B. Dixon, recalled, produced a sample of coal dust from Ralph's mine. Ho had analysed it in Wellington with th© Government; Analyst, Dr. J. S. MacLaurin. In reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford, repre-' senting a section of the Neiw Zealand miners, the Professor said he had not taken to Wellington a sample of the coal from the coal scuttle in the Huntly Hqtel. His report to th© Minister was. made four days before. he tested the sample. Up to the time of the report', he had only seen the dust in th© mine.The coal in tho mino probably was not 60 inflammable as the sample analysed. To Mr. Browne (Commissioner): In watering the mines the roof, (sides, and floor, should be thoroughly wetted throughout. The air zones were not nearly so effective in preventing explosions as universal watering. The examination of Boyd Bennie, Inspector of Mines for tho Auckland District, was continued. Witness said his reasons for inspecting the Tanpiri mines more frequently than usual in the year prior to the disaster were reports of gas in the old workings. In bis letter of August 7 to lihe Under-Seorctary for Mines, witness'* statement that the stricter supervision of tho Taupiri mines was needed was based on the burning' of Kelly in July, gas in the old workings, and the ever-present little dangers, also the danger from blown-out shots, which might cause 'disaster and danger to individuals working in places 10 feet to 18 feet high, whore the light from safety lamps was too weak to penetrate to the roof. He. also considered the manager might have employed two under-viewere instead of one in so big a mine. His ■efforts were really directed to a reduction of the carburetted hydrogen in the mine, and the appointment of shot fires to obviate the risk of blown-out shots. He thought inspectors should have authority to insist on safety lamps. Their powers were inadequate for tho proper carrying out of their duties. The commission resumes on Monday afternoon.

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