MINING REGULATIONS VIOLATED

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 26, 27 June 1923, Page 10

MINING REGULATIONS VIOLATED

Fine Imposed on Wilson's

For a breach of regulations governing ventilation of the "Wilson's Collieries at Hikurangi, Gavin Davidson was fined £2 and £2/11/6 costs. Davidson's lawyer argued that the offence was of a temporary nature, due to the non-arrival of .some screening. The Department did not press for a heavy penalty, allegedly because its inspector was satisfied that the fault had been remedied the day after it was noticed. ■ THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Here is a copy of the inspector's report, dated February 20: — "Accompanied by Mr. Nesbit, workmen's inspector, I inspected all the working places of the mine. I proceeded to the pillar places south of the main haulage road, and found working places safe and in good order. Ventilation fair. Temperature, 69 deg. dry and 68 deg. wet at workIng place. "I inspected TunstalFs dip, off No. 6 level, where four men were working. The places were advanced 50ft. from the airway ',and by anemometer test no appreciable movement of air was* discernible from the face to the airway. A deputy was engaged erecting brattice to direct the air to the working faces, where the air was quite stagnant. "Inspected the main dip section, travelled to lower level south, "Fagan's Place," and took sample in duplicate of the mine air at the face, where 'the ventilation was inadequate. I examined Wilson's place, '-which, is a rise bord, the face of which is fully 40ft. from the airway, and no brattice was erected to conduct the air into the 'bord. This man appeared to b6 working in obvious -discomfort, and I Informed the manager (Mr. Davit*Stm>- that the place- was -unfit; owing tcabsence of ventilation;.for any xavm te work In. The manager then withdrew Wilson from the place. Temperature 70 deg. F. ..;'.■■ In this section none of the places were bratticed to provide for the prescribed quantity of air reaching the working faces, as required by Section 8 of the Coal Mines Amendment Act, 1914 (Id), I took samples in duplicate of the air in Wilson's place."