CORONER’S INQUEST

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, 2 October 1914, Page 3

CORONER’S INQUEST

(Continued from page 4.) By MrTunks: The fan was never allowed to slacken down at night. * By Mr Bennie : The only time the fan stopped was when repairs were required. It *3id not stop on the night of the accident. Joseph Mount Brownlie, Horsed river, employed in Ralph’s mine, went down the shaft at 7 a.m on the morning of the explosion. He went to the cabin about 100 yards from the slnTft bottom, and waited until Wm. Smith, the deputy, arrived. Witness went to the stables down the endless rope way, about 15 chains away, to get his horse which he harnessed. With three others he left the stables, proceeding along No. 2 to the Little Dip whence he was about to draw rails. He got through two trap doors on the road into the Little Dip, G-len Mottram in front, and McGill with him, Jacob Thompson having been left behind. He felt a rush of wind coming against him just at the turn. The rush lifted Mottram into the old workings, forcing witness into the trap door. He was not injured in any way. He heard no sound, saw no flame, but smelt something that was not fresh air. He followed tire road to the shaft bottom where he met tlie engineer, Mr W. Jolley. The air was good at the foot of the shaft. It took them about ten minutes to get back. Ho had worked four years in- the mines. He had never heard the men complain of gas or insufficient ventilation. He had always regarded the mine as safe. On the previous Thursday he took two cases of powder to the machine men, and two on Friday to the stone drive in Wilson’s Jig. He had not been down the mine since. Deputy Darby was at the telephone at the shaft bottom. He presumed that he was communicating with the other deputies in No 6 cabin. By Mr Bennie : He had driven the horse in No 6 level and in No. 6 special since the strike. He had seen no accumulation of dust, and any dust there was had been watered by Hugh Ransorne. Alexander McGill, clipper, twas with Brownlie when he experienced the rush of air in the Little Dip. He saw neither flame nor smoke, but the air was charged with small pieces of coal. was in ; fronhj ]

Taupiri West. They went down the main haulage way to No (5 cabin. Deputy John Whorskey - was there breaking carbide. Leaving the main haulage way n they passed No. 6 winch. A short, sharp rumble occurred, this 16 being followed by a gust of wind 2- and a cloud of dust. They had »t carried naked lights right through t- the workings. The lamp of the p. witness kept alight, and by oatchs ing hold of a prop he saved him--t self from being knocked down. > He had been employed by. the u Company for three years. He - had always considered the mine a safe one —an impression that was general. There was not 8 much dust except on the travell- '■ ing way. It had been well waters ed during the last 2or 3 months. • He did not enter the old workings 3 that morning, but kept to the - travelling way. His work was 3 on the main air way, and he t could not see men going into the > old workings. By Mr Be nnie: The travelling 1 road was well watered. It was t about 14 feet wide. Half of that ! would be well watered, and the ; sides dusty. James Young went down the > mine on the morning of the 12th ■ at 7 a.m. He proceeded by 1 the main haulage road behind Mitchell to No. 6 cabin, and then made for the branch road leading to Taupiri West. A terrible gust of wind arose. He was knocked down. He heard no noise, but felt the wind coming behind. There was a smell and dust was present. He had been a miner for 12 years, and had about 3 months’ experience in Ralph’s mine. The ventilation compared very favourably with that of other mines in which he had worked. He had never perceived gas. He eventually got out by Taupiri West shaft. Albert A. Stewart, machineman in Ralph's mine, went down the mine on the morning of the 12th. at 7 a.m. D. Fletcher was with him. He reached the stable by the main road, and thence crossed to the travelling road, making for No. 6 flat sheets. He got as far as the third door. He heard a report, and bis light went out. A strong wind charged 1 with gas and. fumes forced him onward. He and Fletcher were 1 the last two that crossed the flat sheet. He had the impression 1 that the report came from No. 6 1 flat sheet. The force of the wind 1 against a rib. After 1 a lit hi 3 light and having 1 picked the others up essayed to ' return to the east shaft. Within t 150 yards of No. 6 he was driven £ Tack by gas, and subsequently r by Taupiri West.

li conducted near enough to the 6 face had been made. As soon y as made the remedy followed, i. He had heard that Mr Stewart y had complained to a deputy *1 about an insufficiency of air. s By Mr Napier : He had never d complained without the remedy d being applied. He had comb plained about six weeks ago. and 0 in order to provide for the con- - duct of air to the face brattice - was put up. By;.Mr Bennie : The machines s made a little dust, but not in suffii eient quantities to impregnate i the air. O late the centre port tion of the road had been sloppy, t there being a little dust on the - sides. For two months the roads - had been well watered. By Mr Robertson : He had i never complained of the presence i of gas or fire, and knew of tlie occurrence of neither. By Mr Tanks: The noise be heard seemed more like a report than a fall. A. A. Stewart (recalled) had complained of the necessity for brattice, to one of the deputies about five weeks ago. There was no insufficiency of air. Brattice was supplied immediately. It was a usual thing to ask for more brattice as the face was being gradually cut back. William Mitchell clipper, heard no report, but sustained a slight injury to a leg by beingforced by the wind against a rib. He corroborated the evidence of the former witness as to the condition of the mine. One morning he'noticed that No. 7 was a bit hot. Ralph’s was a dustier mine than the Denniston mine, but was dry compared with it. About six feet of the travelling way was kept watered. Neither horses nor men would raise dust as they passed along. He had never thought it dangerous to use naked lights nor had the suggestion ever been made to him. Alexander Mclntosh, machineman, on leaving the lavatory, felt a fierce gust of wind, the suction travelling up the main ; road and he getting the upturn ; in his face. He was knocked down and his light was blown out. < He got back about twenty yards ( but was forced by gas to return. < Eventually he got out by the s west shaft. Conditions were normal on the morning of the t 12th. Onsetter O’Brien and c Deputy Darby went down first s to ascertain that the conditions i were safe. When lie got down the latter was at the telephone c ascertaining if everything was f right. He had worked in the i Allendale, Green Island and i e 1 1 < r