COALMINE DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 12

COALMINE DISASTER.

FIFTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION.

CLAIMS STILL PURSUED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT, DUNEDIN, Friday.

One of the greatest coalmine tragedies in the history of New Zealand occurred at Kaitangata 51 years ago to-day J when a terrible explosion buried all the miners, with one exception, who were working at the time.

One miner was driving a horse with coal boxes out of tho mine when the explosion took place, and he and tho horse were hurled many yards along the ground. This man died and no one in tho mine returned to tell how the tragedy was caused. After extonsive inquiries a verdict of manslaughter was returned against one of the miners, who was found with a pipe in his mouth. Tho number of deaths was 34. Report o! Tragedy. " From tho appearance and situation of many of tho bodies when found," stated a newspaper report at tho time, "it would seem probable that an explosion of fire damp took place Bomowhero about tho centre of the mine, and that, becoming aware of tho disaster, the coalcutters hastily made for the mouth, but were compelled to cross a belt of black damp, which caused them to drop down as if stupefied. Then they wero speedily suffocated.

" Not one body was found in the place where tho men were working, but 13 bodies lay within a radius of 12yds. in a spot where no explosion had occurred. The majority of the bodies were not mutilated in the slightest." There was scarcely a household in the township which did not lose either a member or friend, and the lamentation was general. Twenty-four married men and 10 single men lost their lives. Many of tho married men left largo families. A fund known as the Kaitangata relief fund was set up and contributions were freely given. Altogether £16,520 was raised. Fund Not Exhausted. Payments from the fund were made to the widows or next-of-kin of the miners, but the money was not divided to the satisfaction of all, for a widow with one child received the same amount as a mother with as many as eight children. Tho money was to give some comfort to the stricken homes, and to pay for the education of tho orphans, but all of it was not used for these purposes. It was taken over by tho Government. Some of those persons who believe they are entitled to tho remaining money are still endeavouring to get what they consider is owing to them. At_the time of tho disaster there was no compenastioii or insurance for workmen, and the people of New Zealand, and even people in England, contributed liberally toward tho relief fund. Several of tho original beneficiaries have petitioned Parliament for the past six years and have given evidence before tho Mines Committee, which has, on tho last two occasions, given a favourable recommendation to Parliament that tho remainder of the fund should bo distributed among lhose~for whom it was originally contributed. Two local delegates to the Mines Committee, Mrs. B. E. Bossward and Mr. Robert Coulter, stated yesterday that tho matter was advancing a. little each year - . It went through the Lower House last year and it would no doubt bo dealt with by Cabinet next session.