HUNTLY MINE FIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18735, 13 December 1922, Page 7

HUNTLY MINE FIRE

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. CAREFUL INSPECTION ORDERED. (Peb United Press Association.) ' WELLINGTON, December 12." A telegram sent by Mr O’Brien •to Mr 1 H. E. Holland respecting the Huntly mine fire was submitted to the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Mines, who replied that the Taupiri extended mine has been for some months past subject to crushing and creeping. When the first report of such f an occurrence came to hand the Minister of Mines caused special instructions to ha issued to the Inspector of Mines at Huntly. The effect of these instructions was that the inspector was most carefully to examine the mine and see that all statutory safety measures for the protection of the men and officials and the mine were given effect to. The inspector has submitted frequent reports of such inspections to the department, which reports show that he has carried out the instructions of the Minister from time to time in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by the law. He has notified' the mine managers to carry out the safety precautions. Last Tuesday a fir® occurred in part of the mine, and the inspector, acting under his statutory powers, notified the mine manager to erect stoppings for the purpose of isolation and putting out the fire. When the danger became serious the mine manager withdrew the men from the mine, and they have not since resumed work. From a report which came to hand; to-day, the inspector reported that,. the last of such stoppings had been finished:'' 1 -.! n© also pointed out that in his opinion ' the stoppings were not efficient, and that he had notified the mine manager to make the stoppings already erected more efficient, so as more satisfactorily to isolate the area affected by the fire. This mine is under the general control of Mr James Bishop, who is one of the leading and most respected raining engineers in the dominion, and from, a newspaper report of an interview which Mr Bishop has given, it would appear that the mine is not in a serious position from- . the clanger point of view. However, the V Minister is still concerned with the position; ■ of the mine. He has arranged with Mr ; Bayne, Chief Inspector of Coal Mines Elect,;, to proceed to Huntly for the purpose of - making a further inspection of the mine, and he will arrive there for that purpose on Friday. The suggestion that Mr Keed should act for the Government cannot law-, fully be given effect to, as he is no longer,*.!; employed by the Government, and does nobtr') now hold any statutory authority. Mr Bayne;*,; will be instructed to make a careful- in-aj, spection in con j miction with the Inspector of Mines, who has had a long experience as a practical mine manager, and to report to the Minister as to what further steps, if any, are required to be taken in order j . to make the min© safe.