MINES ON FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6813, 18 September 1883, Page 5

MINES ON FIRE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday. Some of the mines are afire, where cannot be exactly ascertained, but there can-be little doubt it is in the Caledonian, near the Golden Crown boundary. The fire was first noticed in the Caledonian about nine o'clock yesterday morning. Mr. Hicks, the manager, and a man went down the shaft to explore, but could not get far on account of the gas and the smoke, which emitted an exceedingly disagreeable stink. Mr. Hicks was affected for a long time by gas, and walked up the ladder with difficulty. To-day, the wind having changed, the Bmoke has taken a different direction. The Red Queen section is clear, and the smoke is coming from the direction of the Golden Crown. The Golden Crown was explored yesterday, but no fire was there, although the sickening smell resulting from the fire pervaded some of the workings. Where the celebrated Caledonian patch, and in other places, where caves were excavated in working in the early days, were filled in with firewood, some stacks, it is said, were used, beimj equal to at least 100 tons. It is surmised that one of these heating, generated the fire spontaneously* The men are not working in the Caledonian, and very few in the Crown. Evening. The fire referred to in the telegram this morning is evidently on No. 1 level (Caledonian), towards the Golden Crown. It may occasion much inconvenience, at least temporarily. Tha Waiotabi, Caledonian, and nearly all the Golden Crown men will be able to work, but certainly not with safety, and the men driviog the cross-cut at the 640 feet level were also driven out this afternoon by the gas and smoke issuing from No. 4 level,

which communicates with the Caledonian. Some say that it may burn for weeks so great is the quantity of timber. Concerted action will probably be taken by the mine managers to grapple with the difficulty. Some speak of smothering the fire by cutting off all meaus whereby air would gain access to it, and an endeavour will probably be made to get a stream of water to play upon it. It •is conjectured that the tributes on Saturday touched the timber and thus exposed it to air, and being already heated through great pressure, it ignited spontaneously. This forenoon No. 2 level was quite clear of smoke and gas. A man named James Elliot was down working, and toe manager, with three men — Arthur Richards, John Mclnnes, and Richard Caasley — were exploring. Suddenly the wiud shifted, and carritd the gas int > the level. Elliot was at once Bought out, and brought along in an apparently half-druuken state, such beiug the effect of the gas upon him. He was sent to the surface in the cage with, and in the charge of Mcfnnes, who was was not so badly affected. Tne next cage brought up the remaining three. On starting, Richards' thumb goi caught in a link of the chain, and this possibly saved his life. While ascending, the fresh air would seem to have proved baneful under the circum- - stances. At all events, Richards fainted, and his head bumped against the side of the shaft twice. Mr. Hicks then caught him, ■and held him up. Cassley next exhibited signs of faintness, and Mr. Hicks likewise took hold of him, and in this position the surface was reached. Hicks too felt very faint, but he thinks an effort of the will induced by a sense of the responsibility attaching to him at the moment sustained him. The men soon recovered their normal condition, but Hicks, who has been down the mine a good deal, feels puffed about the face and hands. Coutt*, the manager of the Deep Level Cross, and Phillips, pitman of the Big Pump, tried to reach the scene of the fire by Tookey's shaft oa Sunday forenoon. Uuulop also explored the Crown mine on Sunday evening. He went through the mine ty-day, and found no fire, but indications of it towards the Caledonian.