THE HUNTLY DISASTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 4

THE HUNTLY DISASTER

MINE MANAGER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER. AUCKLAND, December 3. Before Mr E. Rawson, S.M., to-day, at Huntly, James Fletcher appeared on a charge that on September 12, 1914, at Huntly, through neglect with regard to tho safety of miners in Ralph’s mine, he caused the death of William Burton by committing manslaughter. Burton was one of the victims of the Huntly disaster. Mr H. H. Ostler (Crown Prosecutor at Wellington) appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Tunks (of Auckland) appeared for the accused. Mr Ostler said that he and counsel for the accused had agreed to a statement of facts which would save the time of the court and which his Worship accepted. The statement was to the effect that on September 7 accused became incapacitated and was so at the time of the explosion, and William Gowan, who lost his life, had been appointed deputy manager in charge. Mr Boyd Bennie, inspector of mines in the Auckland and Taranaki provincial district, gave evidence similar to that .given during the inquest and inquiry by a Royal Commission A number of witnesses were examined at length, the object of the prosecution being to obtain facts to show that the accused, while aware of the presence of dangerous mixtures of gas and coaldust in the mine, did not take ordinary precautions to ensure the safety of the men in the mine. There was practically nothing in the evidence or interest which was not brought out at the official inquiry. HAMILTON, December 4. James Fletcher, manager of the Taupiri mines, Huntly, who is charged with the manslaughter of William Burton in connection with the recent pit disaster, has been committed for trial at the Hamilton Supreme Court in March next. Bail was allowed —accused in his own recognisance of £IOO.