THE INQUEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16664, 24 September 1914, Page 9

THE INQUEST.

MANAGER GIVES EVIDENCE. [Per Press Association.] HUNTLY, September 23,

The Court was crowded when the inquest on the victims of the explosion was opened. James Fletcher, general manager of the Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., said that on the day of the explosion he was not in charge, being incapacitated at the time. He had appointed William Gowans as doputy-mauager. Gowans was one of the victims of the explosion. The day of the explosion was an offday at the mine, and actually six workings were in operation. In compliance with the Coal Mines Act the whole of the working places were examined each morning by three competent persons, who ontered within two hours prior to tho main body of men commencing work. Tho reports of the three examing deputies for that morning were found in the office in the mine. They showed that the barometer registered from 37 to 37J degrees in different parts of the mine, and the thermometer from 48 to 49. All three reports stated that the roads were 6afe at 7 a.m., and the ventilation good. The denuties always carried safety lamps on their daily inspection. _ No actual mining was done that morning, tho men descending merely to straighten up the tunnels. About three tours of the old workings were made continuously by an inspector specially appointed. His last report, on tho eleventh, stated that all was well, there being no falls, wlide the ventilation was good. Witness stated that fire-damp had beon found in small quantities on several occasions in pockets. The last occasion was on August 17, when Inspector W T eir re: ported that he found diluted gas in No. 4 bore, which was dispersed by the air current. Gas of this nature was usually caused by a. fall. Witness considered that the mines were fairly immune from fire-damp unless a big fm occurred. On July 5 William Kelly, one of the victims, was working in No. 6 overhead drive, a short distance from ignited an accumulation of gas. His wont to the pothole for a drink, and having a naked light on his head, he isgnited an accumulation of gas. His aair was singed and ho was off work for fourteen days. This particular section was examined at 8 a.m. the same day and found safe. A good current of air was going through the drive, and a request was made to Deputy Darby by one of the contractors to reduce the current as the men complained of the cold.' Tho request ( was refused. In witness’s opinion tho accumulation of gas was caused by tho disarrangement of tho ventilation because of the air intako pipe being blooked by brattice cloth. He considered that the men had found the workings too cold to be comfortablo, and had blocked The pipe. The whole incident, was reported to tho Government inspector. During the four years witness had been engaged at the mines the accident to Kelly was the only one of this nature. So far as witness could recollect, he novel- received complaints from any man working in tho mine of accumulation of gas, and he had no reason to suspect that gas was in the mine in dangerous quantities. Mr Fletcher, continuing his evidence, said that on August 26 signs of heating were noticeable in the old workings, and on a search being mode tho trpuble was locatod. The conditions were reported normal at midnight. There had been no other signs of heating except on one occasion ten weeks previously. Witness admitted receiving a letter from Inspector Bennie regarding the dangerous condition of the mine, particularly the old. workings and the main drive, owing to accumulation of dry dust. The letter instructed the company to immediately undertake spraying the dust with water to remove the danger. The letter added: “Although I previously warned the company of the danger, little or nothing has been done to comply with the request regarding spraying.” In view of the accident to Kelly, Mr Bennie requested that shotfirers should be appointed as required by Special Rule 25, and that accumulation of dry coal-dust should be dealt with in an adequate and proper manner. The letter concluded: “ Failure to comply with my request will be followed by prosecution for breaches of tho Act.” On August 25 the company received notice from Mr Bennie that it might be necessary to insist on the use of safety lamps. Replying to Inspector Wright, witness said spraying was done regularly in the main shaft, but that it was not considered necessary to spray the old workings. - • ■ Asked if ho had any theory as to how the explosion occurred, witness replied in the negative. The company, he said, carried its own insurance risks. If the men had expressed a desire for safety lamps, they could have had them. One hundred electric safety lamps had been ordered by the company, and none but safety lamps' would bo used in the future. The mine was considered a damp and cool one. A number of men wlio succeeded in escaping uninjured stated that the workings seemed as usual on the morning of the explosion. All declared that they bad previously found it free. of gas, though the majority had noticed dry coal-dust in varying quantities at different places. The inquest was adjourned till tomorrow.

UNION' PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE ASKED TO RESIGN. [Per Press Association.] HUNTLY, September 23.

At a meeting of one hundred members of the Hnntly Miners’ Union last "’edit, at which Messrs Semple and Webb wore present, it was decided to request Mr Stuart_ Dixon, president, who secured a verdict for £IOOO damages in the recent libel action against the “ Maoriland Worker,” with all members of the executive, to resign.