DOBSON DISASTER

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 2

DOBSON DISASTER

EX-MAHfIfiER'S EVIDENCE QUESTION OF STONE-DUSTING [Per United Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, June 14. The Dobson disaster inquiry was continued to-day. After Mr Hughes, the mine manager, had completed his evidence, Walter Leitch, tho ex-manager, 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 ho had had in mind the idea that the mine should be stone dusted, and he had endeavored to get a supply. Witness said he did not remember the receipt of a letter from the Mines Department_ in November threatening to tak action unless the regulations regarding coal dust were complied with. Mr A. H. Kimbell (Undersecretary of Mintes) interjected: “I don’t understand why you did not have the mine stone dusted to comply with tho regulations. Witness replied that he did not think the mine was in a dangerous state. He did not succeed in getting the stone dust when he sought for it. They did not got it at the State mine, and he did not then know that he could get matter for that purpose at Ross only. Ho took one sample of the coal dust in the mine six months before the disaster. The proportion was so small that witness did not think at that time that the regulations applied to it. The searching of the men was ineffective, if the wanted to carry anything in. If Hughes had received the letter from the department about stone dusting it was his duty to carry out the work. Witness swore he had ton seen the letter. The manager’s duty was to see that the lamps were taken from the mine.