FORTY-TWO DEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15718, 19 September 1914, Page 7

FORTY-TWO DEAD.

. HZJNTLY DEATH ■ S&LK \-J - ■■■■'■ W-. — (TWO MEN STILL MISSING. (EXPLORATION PROCEEDING, SAFETY OF THE MINE. CAUSE OF EXPLOSION. [b? telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Huntlt, Friday. Tee investigation of the, workings in IteJph's mine was continued to-day. a systematic plan of operations having "been adopted, whereby every portion of the mine will bo visited and explored. In this work Messrs. F. Reed, of the Mines Department, Boyd Bennie, inspector of mines, W. Wood, manager of the Extended mine] Bishop, of the Stato mine, and E. W. Tnttley, of the Hikurangi mine, are engaged. . When interviewed to-day two of the partv expressed great satisfaction at the state of affairs revealed. Considering he violence of the explosion, the devastation and .wreckage, though bad enough, were not so great as might have been expected. The ventilation was now very effective, while the pumps continued to throw a good volume of water.

Asked concerning the cause of the explosion, tho gentleman interviewed could give no information. There had been an explosion of fire-damp, he said, but how or where ignition took place had not yet. been determined. The first was, no doubt, followed by a second explosion of coaldust, which was a factor, but to his mind not tho most important factor, of the disaster. Even-thing was being done to arrive at a conclusion regarding tho causes, and the work of investigation now being undertaken would no doubt yield important evidence.

According to another, the mine was now perfectly ale, and there was no reason ■why work should not be resumed in the course of a week or so. Continuous shifts led by the deputies are engaged in restoration work, and in searching for the tinrecovered bodies.

Two bodies wcto found to-day. That of Hugh Ransome, road-cleaner, was clearly identiSed, while the second, which was ■opposed to be that of a trucker named John Martin, is now thought to be that of Thomas Baker. A body, some days ago, was identified as that of Thomas 'Baker, Slid interred.

To make up the total death-roll of 42, two more bodies are required. One of these is that of the deputy, William fimit,!. Tho identity of the other is still in doubt. Since Tuesday identification has been rendered difficult by the mutilation to which tho bodies have been subjected, and to the effects of decomposition.