DOBSON MINE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16364, 11 June 1927, Page 8

DOBSON MINE

ENQUIRY INTO DISASTER. WHAT WAS CAUSEOF EXPLOSION (Per Press Association.) GEEYMOUTH, last night. The enquiry into the Dobson colliery disaster opened to-day, Mr. Page, S.M., presiding, with Mr. John Watson, superintendent of Taupiri mines, and Mr." William Ealdorson,. secretary of the West Coast Miners' Council. The commission first inspected the mine and workings. , John Smeaton, president of the Grey Valley Miners' Union, said he was' working at the mine on the night of December 3. He detailed the circumstances of the explosion about 3 a.m. on December 3. He com sidered the mine officials had honestly endeavored 1 of'keep the colliery free of gas. For 10 weeks prior to tho explosion witness had heard no complaints of gas till the night before the disaster, when there were complain!s. He considered the regulations under the Mining Act to be satisfactory if fully enforced. The Dobson mine officials had too much work, and the need existed for stricter supervision of the men. The explosive used was monobel, to which he had no objection. Gas was always accumulating in the rise and workings at Dobson, and the east level was cut off last August in consequence, since when the mine seemed to improve. The Department's inspectors tfore always thorough. Tlieie was no danger from electric lamps, but witness considered the holing at the face for blasting should be 3ft. deep. He thought tho cxplosiou originated ift a dip of the workings where the victim Bramme? worked'', and considered the great force of the explosion was due to ignition of coal dust rather than gas, The- process of gruttehiHg out coal created dust. Sliot firing had in cases been improperly done at Dobson. Witness considered that the firers needed more qualifications. Dobson was no gassier a mine than any other iu which, witness had worked. Witness did not credit the theory that electric sparks bolo.w caused the explosion. The-men at the face should know how to test safety lamps.. The State mine rescue ! apparatus was not suitable for. Pobsou. More air was going down Dobson than any other on the West Coast, but witness warned.his union in August that jif the firing did not improve, there would'be trouble.

Isaac A. James, State mine superintendent, sa'ul the regulations were sufficient if the officials carried them md. Coal . dust should be examined half-yearly, or as i often as deemed necessary." Ho did not favor monthly tests, as in England, where the/ mines were deeper and dirtier. He did not favor giving safety lamps to any but reliable men, as lamps sometimes were- left hangiug, and by heating could ignite the gas. He considered electric lamps safe in gas. Mr. Balderstone: "You would not get many to agree with that." ' Witness said ho thought that if the explosion was not due to a naked light the cause was spontaneous combustiQU, He considered the explosion originated in the rise workings and not from shot firing. The Commission adjourned Wl to-morrow.