DOBSON DISASTER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 June 1927, Page 5

DOBSON DISASTER

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. CONDITIONS IN THE MINE. EVIDENCE OF WORKERS. lUI rEL EUR ABH RRESS ASSOCIATION. I GREYMOUTH, June 12. At the Dobson mine disaster inquiry, John. Ford deposed' that he worked in No. 2 dip the day 'before the explosion.. There was no suspicion of danger when he left that night. He . was not satisfied with the methods of shot firing used at the mine. When the shots were fired he left for a place of refuge. This dip was very dusty, and dangerous. Conditions had improved in the last six months, but - they did not compare well with the precautions in British mines -where witness had worked. The officials at Dobson were overworked. Black and Marshall, a fortnight before the disaster, told witness that the fan had caught fire, Marshall stating _ that sparks flew when the deputy tried -to turn oii the electricity. An explosion in No. 2 dip could extend l up the main stone drive. Every miner should .be able to test his own place for gas. Witness had found gas in No. 1 and 3 dips. The mine was very gassy. The deputies should only have to do inspection work. The Dobson shot firers were reliable 'The deputies and -underviewers there had to fire shots, but should not have to do much work. There was considerable “crunching” done, causing extra dust. Witness saw only one search made for matches and tobacoo on the men. Coal dust was mainly responsible for the violence of the explosion. Thomas Reid, .a miner, said that at 9.40 p.m. on the night 'before the explosion he encountered gas, consequently leaving his place and telling Deputy Little, who did 1 not examine the place, to which witness did hot re- \ turn" before knocking off. There was plenty of air, except at the working face.” Two oil lamps were brought' away from near witness’s place at the end'of the shaft. The rise workings were dangerously dusty. Edward Keating deposed that Black told him of flame shooting out of a motor the day before the explosion, which Noakes reported to the engineer, who was dubious when Black also told him- he saw smoke. The boles cut for the shots complied with the regulations. Witness’s opinion "•as that the explosion started in Black’s place. Only a. few men resorted to “crunching.” The flame evidently came from under the motor covering. There was no check on the electric lamps issued to the men. The shooting in places looked suspicious. Witness had refused to fire a shot for Bremmer. He knew of no case of miners firing their own shots. He considered the mine safe and sufficiently ventilated. Robert Marshall said that two weeks before the disaster his- father told him flames three or* four feet long had been coming from the motor. James Ford said his place was free of gas the night before the explosion. . The shots were well fired. He knew of no men working in gas, and had -.no suspicion of anyone smoking. No, 2 dip was d'usty to the top. He had. no idea where the explosion occurred. Carl Roberts, union secretary, said the mine was free of gas the day liefore the disaster. Noakes would be careful if lie saw sparks from uiider the motor cover. On December 2 there was no smoking.

George Little, in charge of the shift from 3 to 11 p.m. on December 2, said an inspection of the working (places revealed no trace of gas. Dust- m Black’s place might have caused ignition. The r, ondition.s for six weeks had been good. The rise workings were not dusty. He had .seen only one that was badly prepared. The deputies were overworked. The miners should test their own places. Safety lamps were left handv bv the miners for others to collect. Electric lamps were preferred, but hanging .safety lamps were no danger.