THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 241, 25 September 1914, Page 6

THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

PROFESSOR DIXON’S OPINION.

EXPLOSION DUE TO FIRE DUST

[FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. ]

Huntly, Sept. 24. At the inquest on the bodies of the victims of the explosion at Huntly. i Professor Dixon, who will be unable to be pi esent till Saturday. | gave a written opinion, in which he stated:—“Though it is not possible | at present to locate the origin of the j explosion in Ralph’s Mine, the main loss of life was due to the inflanima tion of coal dust Icing on the roads. He was of opinion that it would be advisable in future to work this and similar coal seams with safety lamps, ami believed that modern electric lamps (which give far better illumination than oil lamps) would he the best. Until such lamps are procurable. it, would be safe lo work with naked lights, provided (I) that strict tests are made for fire damp before the miners enter; (2) that the dust in main roads is rendered uninflamniabale. either by systematic watering or by systematic admixture with finely divided inert, dust, such as powdered shale, limestone, or fullers; earth. A combination of inert dust ! ing and spraying may be used, the ‘ inert dust being thrown on to the roof, where it is sometimes unpos-i sible for water to g>». .Safety de-1 pends on either preventing a dust ' cloud being raised or in rendering: such clouds as are raised non-inflam-1 mable by diluting non combustible particles. It may not be possible,”! concluded Professor Dixon, “to pre vent some minor ignitions of fire-1

damp occurring; but I believe it is; possible and practicable to prevent ’ such small inflammations developing into destructive explosions, such as caused the disastrous loss of life at Huntly.”

In giving evidence, Daniel Weir, employed as permanent inspector of the old workings, said that only oi. one occasion had he found gas in anything like dangerous quantity That was in March last. He believed that the accumulation on this occasion was caused by the stoppage of the fan.

Joseph Young, formerly assistant inspector of the old workings, said he frequently found an accumulation of gas in dangerous quantities in the old workings, which were barricaded and marked “Dangerous.” He had discovered signs of heating through smouldering timber on August 26th, and steps were taken to eliminate all danger. The heating was caused by spontaneous combustion. Thomas Edward Webb, for 30 years a miner, said there was Only one mine safer to his knowledge, and that was Elms Colliery, Wigan, where naked lights were- used. Safety lamps were in general use throughout England; but the men were usually the first objectors to safeties, as by their use the work was slower and the freedom less. He had examined every portion of Ralph’s Mine, and had never found any trace of gas in a working face. Mr. Fletcher, mine manager, stated in answer to questions that the company had no life-saving appliances at the time of the explosion. They had an ambulance box on top and below. He knew no mines in the Doniinipn, except Waihi, where lifesaving apparatus was kept. As far as he could learn life-saving appliances were only in their infancy, and from what he had read more lives had been lost by the users of such appliances than were saved. The solicitors for the company said there was not the slightest suggestion of incompetence or lapse of dutyon the part of the Government inspector. The inquest was adjourned till the 30th. The official inquiry opens on October Ist.