MATCHES IN A MINE.

Evening Star, Issue 14962, 23 August 1912, Page 1

MATCHES IN A MINE.

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. SUBSTANTIAL FINE INFLICTED. Upon the information of the min» manager, two miners (Walters and Varpoe) were charged before Mr Bartholomew, S.M., at Kaitangata yesterday with unlawfully having in their possession, certain lucifer matches and a tobacco pipe in a certain part of. the Kaitangata mine where safety lamps were required to be used. Mr Fraser, K.C., appeared for the Mines Department, and stated that Mr Carson had laid the information by direction of the department. In opening the facts, Mr Fraser stated that the two accused, who were shiftmen, were employed in Macallister's dip on the 19th of July; that on the evening of that day tobacco smoke was detected coming from the dip by various underground officers, and the men were taxed with smoking; that when first charged they denied the fact, and offered to allow themselves to be sea relied.. Subsequently they emptied their pockets, and Walters was discovered to have a pipe in his possession. Both men were ordered out of the mine. A search was subsequently made, and four wooden matches partially burnt were discovered. Mr Fraser said if the charge was proved the men were guilty of a very grave offence, and had shown a callous disregard of the lives of their fellow-workers., and that it was to b« legretted that the offence was not punishable by imprisonment without the option of a fine, instead of by a. penalty not exceeding £lO. To expose a naked light in an inflammable portion of any mine where safety lamps were used was most reprehensible. Evidence was given by four witnesses, who deposed to tracing the smoke to Macallister's dip and finding the matches and the pipe in Walters's possession.

The cases were heard separately, and both accused denied that either of them had smoked in the mine, and laid stress on their willingness to be searched when first charged. .The Magistrate convicted Walters and endorsed the remarks made by the Crown Solicitor. The only mitigating circumstance was that the men had just joined the mine. Walters was fined £5 and £i 16s costs, and was given a month within which to pay. The charge against Varcoe was dismissed.