A Lancashire Family

Grey River Argus, 16 February 1933, Page 4

A Lancashire Family

ONLY OUT A YEAR. MINE TAKEN OVER THIS WEEK. AUCKLAND, February 15. The mine disaster at Hikurangi occurred in a small mine taken over only on Monday from the Hikurangi Coal Company by William Ackers, father of the deceased. The mine had not worked for over a year. The air shaft had been sunk when it was last worked about thirty-two feet from the hilltop. A drive was then put in from the hillside, but it was not connected with the air shaft. When Ackers took over the mine it was necessary to join the shaft and the drive, so as to get fresh air. To-day William Ackers went into the drive for the purpose of knocking on the seam and determining its distance from the air shaft. Albert was unable to hear his father distinctly from the top of the shaft. He tied a rope to a cross beam of the shaft and. climbed down. When about half way down, he stood upon wooden supports a few seconds. Suddenly he collapsed and fell head first down the shaft. His brother James then slid down the rope, but when half way down he lost his grip of the rope, sind also fell to the bottom. Jack then also slid down the rope, refusing to listen to another man’s ad. vice to tie a rope round himself. When about 30 feet down, he also became unconscious. Another brother, Robert, was also about to descend, but was restrained. William Reed, a miner, put a rope over his shoulders and descended the shaft. When half way down he cried, “I’m going.” He was hauled back unconscious and black in the face. He soon recovered. Fresh air was fanned into the shaft and the bodies of the three brothers brought up. Resuscitation efforts failed. James Ackers was down the shaft on Monday, and found the air had. but was able to return. The deceased were all well-known athletes, particularly at soceer. The family came from Lancashire only a year ago. QUARRY FATALITY. HASTINGS, February 15. Through being ovarwhelmed by an unexpected fal ,af shingle in a quarrv at Havelock North this afternoon, Richard; Seddon Cooper, aged 25 years, cartage contractor, lost his life. The deceased had just drawn up in a lorry in the shingle pit, and loading was about to be commenced, when a lajge section of the bank of the quarry fell upon him, inflicting severe injuries, which caused almost immediate death