DOBSON TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1926, Page 5

DOBSON TRAGEDY

MORE EXPLOSIONS LIKELY.

MINE NOW BEING .FLOODED,

As the ripples spread when a stone is thrown into a pond, so the sensation caused by the tragic explosion and fire in the Dobson mine in the early hours of yesterday has spread throughout New Zealand. On the West Coast, particularly, it is the topic, of conversation, and the deepest regret felt at the loss of the ill-fated miners is equalled'by the sympathy expressed for their relatives. The explosion at 2.45 p.m. yesterday, which was reported in the “Star,” was followed by another blast about 9 p.-m., and these convinced the men in charge of operations at the mine that the attempt to extinguish the fire by sealing the entrances and cutting off the air, was unavailing. It was then decided to abandon the task for the night, and to flood the mine today by pumping water from the adjacent Grey River. The explosions yesterday afternoon and night were not unexpected, and no one was in the danger zone when they took place. The only damage done, therefore, was in the direction of making the scene of confusion around the mine entrances worse confounded. The force of last night’s upheaval is shown by the fact that the great block of concrete, estimated to weigh twenty tons, which was blown from the entrance to the main dip yesterday morning and deposited yards away on top of the tram rails, was further lifted another ten feet. Debris was blown high into the air, and descended with alarming force upon the roofs of houses in the ’ vicinity of the mine, with the result that several residents and their families decided to evacuate the township for the night, and they came to Greymouth by motorcars.

The shock of the explosion affected the Grey Power Board’s electrical plant, and resulted in the interruption of the supply to the Wallsend Mine, while the electric lights at Greymouth were momentarily affected, the fluctuation being easily noticeable. That the explosions cap. be foretold with some degree of accuracy by mining experts is shown by that of yesterday afternoon. After the first big explosion shortly after 3 a.m. yesterday, one mining man predicted another explosion in about 12 hours. He was not far out, as it occurred at 2.45 p.m.

It was freely rumoured at Greymoutli Hu’s morning that Dobson had been shaken by another terrific explosion, but the news proved to be unfounded. Another explosion is expected, however, and all possible precautions have been taken to prevent anv further loss of life.

Among the employees at the mine are. fifteen Italians, but none of these was injured. Asking him to announce that fact through the Press, Mr G. I’erotti (Consul at. Greymouth), yesterday sent a cable to Signor Mussolini.

The approximate ages of the victims of the disaster are, so far as can be ascertained, as follow:—Richards 43 years. Hunter 21. Lindsay 38, Pardingfon 34, Black 36, Marshall 40, Noakes 40, Brammer 42, Ashton 26.

The condition of Ashton, the survivor. who was removed to the Grey Hospital, improved last evening, but to-day he was reported to be very weak. BRUNNER RELIEF FUND. A suggestion having been made that :he funds raised in connection with ho Brunner disaster might be made available for the relief of the dependents of the Dobson victims, a reporter interviewed the Deputy Public Trustee (Mr T. R. Saywell) in order :o ascertain the position. The funds raised for the Brunner dependents originally amounted to £31,147 18s 7d but Mr Saywell stated that he could not divulge the amount remaining at present. He thought, however, that it would all be required before the leath of the surviving beneficiaries. Pourteen widows were still receiving benefits from the fund, and two special allowances were also being made, in the circumstances therefore, it is apparent that the Brunner funds could not be transferred to the Dobson dependents, even if that were legally possible.

The Workers’ Compensation Act, which came info force since the Brunner disaster, has altered the position concerning the dependents, and has made such a. relief fund not so necessary. The Act provides for payments being made to the dependents of employees who lose their lives during the course of their employment, the payments so made ranging up to £lOOO, and being administered by the Public Trustee. The usual practice in connection with any occupations regarded as hazardous is for the insurance company arranging the cover to provide a disaster limit. VISIT OF DIRECTORS. The Chairman of Directors of thd company (Mr F. K. Hogarth, of Wellington), and the Auckland representative on the Directorate (Mr J. Catchpole) will, according to a message from the “Star’s” Christchurch correspondent, arrive at Greymouth this afternoon. The directors expressed sympathy with the relatives of the deceased qnd the entombed men, and said that everything possible was being done for the survivors by the resident director (Mr. Allan Smith) and the mine manager (Mr G. Hughes). MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE. At a meeting of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union yesterday, a res6lution of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased miners was carried in silence. The resolution was moved by the President (Mr A. Galbraith). Archdeacon York, of Blenheim, and formerly of Greymouth, has forward ed the following telegram: "Deepest sympathy. with friends and sufferers Dobson disaster. God comfort I hem.” Rev. J. F. Martin has received a message expressing! sympathy with the relatives of the deceased, and with the district generally, from Rev. P. Knight, Nelson, President of the Methodist Church. The following telegram has been sent to Mr. F. Williams (Mayor of Brunner) by Mr. Seddon, M.P.’: — “Will you please convey my deepest sympathy to the widows and families of the men who lost their lives in the Dobson Mine tragedy. The sympathy of the whole of the people of Westland goes out to them in their great sorrow. I deeply regret the great disaster and loss which have overwhelmed your borough.” MR J. D. LYNCH’S SYMPATHY. The news of the disaster reached Mr J. D. Lynch, who formerly controlled the mine,, when he was at ‘Hafi T-Tari, South Westland, and he returned to (ireymoutli last evening. Speaking to a. “Star” reporter, Mr Lynch fxpKv.Hiiod his tlcep sympathy 1 ’ .»

with the Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd., and the relatives of the victims of the explosion. “It is all too sad, too sad for words, ’ said Mr 1 Lynch, “and I can only express my deepest sympathy with the men and all concerned. Although I am iiOt in any way connected with the present management, I appreciate the feelings of the directors, and I am sure that they must have taken the greatest precautions so far as the working of the mine was concerned. There is no gainsaying the fact that the explosion is a very severe blow to the district. Still, the indomitable spirit of the people of the Coast will, [ have no doubt, in time get over tlw loss, although, of course, the valuable fives lost cannot be replaced, My long association with the Brunner coalfield; of over thirty years, makes ,ny regret at the disaster all the more keen. At the time' of the Brunner explosion, I was in charge of the National Bank at Wallsend, so this is the secohd disaster that has I occurred in my time on the Coast. | [ have always had a keen realisation ind sense of responsibility as to the danger of gas in mines. “I understand,” added Mr Lynch, ‘that funds should be available for die immediate relief of any dependents requiring assistance, as there is a substantial amount in the hands oi the Public Trustee, raised in connection with the Brunner disaster. When I. had control of the Dolison mine, I had a very substantial insurance against accident, and a disaster limit of £5OOO, in .addition to having the .nine and plant insured against fire.” Mr Lynch has sent the following telegram to the Mayor of Brunner: — ‘Am sad and deeply grieved to learn of Dobson disaster. Please convey my deepest sympathy to the injured md to tile widows, orphans, and relatives of those who lost their lives. May I join and assist any practical movement to comfort the distressed.” FUNERALS TO-MORROW. Some of the .biggest funeral corteges ever seen on the West Coast ■re expected to-morrow afternoon, when the three victims of the exp'osion will be buried at Karoro Cemetery. Both Richards and Lindsay were members of the Advance Masonic Lodge, and Richards was ilso a member of the Brunner Druids’ Lodge. A special train will leave Brunner at 1.25 p.m. stopping at WallKpnd and Dobson, and will leave the Greymouth Railway Station at 2 p.m. for .the Cemetery. A special train will also leave Dunollie at 1.30 p.m., stopping at Runanga and Greymouth, en route for the Cemetery.

An inquest concerning the disaster will be formally opened by the Coroner (Mr W. Meldrum) at the Greymouth Courthouse, at noon on Monday.

INQUEST AT DUNOLLIE. DEATH OF JOHN BIRCH. The inquest concerning the death of Mr John Birch, which was opened at Greymouth on Monday last, was concluded at Dunollie this morning by the Coroner (Mr W. Meldrum). The proceedings were conducted by Sen-ior-Sergeant P. J. McCarthy. After hearing further evidence, the Coroner returned the following verdict:-—■ “That the deceased, John Birch, died at the Greymouth Hospital on November 26. The cause of death was heart failure, due to fracture of the ribs and extensive haemorrhage into the lungs. The injuries to the deceased were the result of an accident at the State Coal Mine, Rewanui, on November 17. The usual precautions had been taken by those engaged in the work, and no blame is attachable to any person.” SAFETY LAMPS. MINERS’ CLAIM FAILS. AUCKLAND, December 3. The question of t*he candlepower of electric safety lamps was involved in a test claim by the miners for arrears of additional wages heard in the Supreme Court. John and Joseph Redfern sued the Taupiri Coalmines Ltd., for £9O 3s 9d, representing 3d per ton on the coal hewn by them jointly in the Rotowaro mine. Clause 33 of the award states: — “There shall be an addition of 3d to the hewing rate if in the event of changes in the working conditions in the mine, the men are required to work with lamps of less than one candlepower.” Both the Company and the men had assumed the Oldham safety lamp was one-candle power, and accordingly from its introduction a lower hewing rate was paid. It was now alleged that tests made by Prof. Powell (Canterbury College) upon the Oldham lamps from Westport showed the lamp was less than one candlepower. After witness, including Pro. Powell had given evidence, Mr West, for the company, moved for a non-suit. Mr Justice Adams granted the nonsuit. He said that plaintiffs had' failed to produce evidence that the lamps used in the mine were less than one candlepower within the meaning of the award. The award did not specify the method of . determining candlepower, and the plaintiffs were not entitled io select sue? a method which gqve a result in tneir favour-