RESCUE APPARATUS AT COAL UNKNOWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 65

RESCUE APPARATUS AT COAL UNKNOWN.

Since the ippalllng colliery disaster af Coumeres m the north of France in. 1805, chemists slid mining engineers in Europe and America -have been busy designing appliances for rescue york in coal mines after fire-damp- or coal-dust explosions. Many different kinds of apparatus hare been put on the market, nearly all of them possessing points of excellence th«t *e«m to *ecomman4 tSiem to the notice at mine-owner*. - It i» obvious, bswever, thai 43m> hour of stream and turmoil following an explosion will be the test that will eliminate the inefficient and lead to the eurvial of the fittest, flr has been urged jn various places dnring.th* past year "that in tbe event of amendinglegislation of the New. Zealand Coal Mines Ac* coming before Parliament it should be made compulsory for the mine-owner to provide . and maintain » set pf approved rescue apparatus and the appliances necessary for the resuscitation of workmen overcome by underground explosions. la connection with this matter it is weH for us to know what is being don*.in'otter countries. From the report of Messrs HaU dane Hall and Atkinson.on colliery practice <n the Westphalian coalfield* we rather that ri j regulations of the T>ottmund Mimnjf Board require that at eabh ■ colliery there shall be a properly equipped', ambulance room, provided with everything needed foi the first aid and the treatment of minor accidents. The provision of rescue apparatus for the penetration into atmospheres that cannot be breathed is not'yet mado compulsory, but at all collieries visited by the party not-only were such apparatus provided, bu£ a number of men were regularly trained in their use. Fires from spontaneous combustion are not infrequent m tbe Westphalian collieries, and in dealing with these the men trained to work. wit& the r^cw apparatus are frequently employed. Coalmining is universally reeogniseias a <tongerous but necessary occupation. The danger is inherent to it, and therefore eve*y effort should be made to roinimiae the risks by every reasonable effort that r lies in our power. It fs now frankly jtcknowledge* by the legislature of all countries tea* human life is of more value t&an Material j hence the elaborate regul«*i«n« in, regard-to ventilation and the «afety of the workmen that are enacted and enforced in all countries where coal-mining is carried on. We are in hopes -that the application of scientific methods will acomphsh for mine sanitation what it ha« already doee for metallurgy.—[Communicated.] • ■

A "simple life" hotel ha* been opened at the Garden City of Letoh worth, England. Fruit and vegetables are th© maun articles of diet, aiid the butter supplied ta made of nuts. No matter how long you have suffered horn rheumatism, gout, sciatica, or lumbago, Rhecio will cure you. AH chemists ana etores stock it. Piic 2,0 and 4/fc,