HUNTLY DISASTER.

Southland Times, Issue 17764, 24 September 1914, Page 2

HUNTLY DISASTER.

ANOTHER BODY RECOVERED. MINERS DEMAND HIGHER WAGES. CPer United Press Association,) HUNTLY, September 2.1. The body of Thomas Berry, enginedriver. aged 29 years, was recovered from the Huntly mine this morning. So far as is known only one body, that of William Smith, a deputy, aged 60, and married, is now below. John Jackson, aged 20, one of the three injured, lias died, and Alfred Beckham is making a slow recovery. Young Jachson’s death makes the third victim in the Jackson family—the father and two sons having met their death as the result, of the explosion. Altogether forty bodies have been recovered, Two deaths occurred in the hospital. and one body is still entombed. The Extended mine, in which about 2T>O are usually employed, should have started work this morning, but the miners refused to recommence operations unless granted in increase from 2s 7d to 2s per ton, as they declare the compulsory use of safety lamps will reduce their output, owing to the reduced volume of illumination as compared with that of naked lights. The Company offered an increase of Id, but this was refused. Shift men also demanded a rise from 11s 4d to 12s 6d a day, and truckers from 9s Sd to 10s Gd. A deadlock there exists.

The Miners’ Union held a meeting this morning and decided not to recommence work until all the bodies have been recovered.

T HlO I NQL' KMT. AUCKLAND, Sept. 23. The Court was crowded when the inqui'si opened to-day. James Fletcher, general manager of the Taupiri Coal Mines. Ltd., said that on tlio day of the explosion lie was not in charge, being: incapacitated at the time. He appointed Man. Cowans as deputy-manascr. Gowan.s was one of the victims of the explosion. The day of the explosion was an off day at the mine, and actually six workings were in operation. In compliance with the Coal Mines Act the whole of the workins: places wore examined each morning; by three competent persons, who entered within two hours prior to the main body of men commencing; work. Tiie reports of the throe examining deputies that morning were found in the office and showed that the barometer registered from 37 to 27 Vi degrees in ditto rent parts of the mine, and the thermometer from 48 to 40. All three reports stated that the roads were safe at 7 a.m„ and that ventilation was good. The deputies always carried safety lamps on their daily inspection. No actual mining was done that morning, the men descending merely to straighten up the tunnels. About three tours of the old workings were made continuously by an inspector specially appointed. The last report (on the 11th) staled that all was well, there being no falls, while the ventilation was good. Witness stated that fire damp had been found in small quantities on several occasions in pockets. The last occasion was on August 17. when Inspector Weir reported that lie found diluted gas in No. 4 bord. which was dispersed. Gas of this nature was usually caused by » fall. Witness considered the mines fairly immune from fire-damp unless a hi" fall occurred. On July H William Kelly, one of the victims, was working in No. 0 stone over-head drive, a short distance from a pot-hole that was ••blooding" gas. lie wont to the pot-hole for a drink, and having a naked light on liis head he ignited rm accumulation of gas in the pot-hoio. Mis hair was singed and be was off work for 14 days. This particular section was examined at S a.m. tiro same day and found safe. A good current of air was going til rough the drive, and a request was made to Deputy Darby by one of the contractors to reduce the current as the men complained of the cold. The request was refused. In witness’s opinion the accumulation of gases was caused by the disarrangement of ventilation, because of the air intake pipe being blocked by a brattice doth. Ho considered that the men had found the workings too cold to be comfortable and had blocked the pipe. The whole incident was reported to the Government Inspector, During the four years witness iiad been engaged at the mines the accident to Kelly was the only one of this nature. So far as witness could recollect he never received a complaint from any man working in the mine of accumulation of gas. and had no reason to suspect that gas was in the mine in dangerous quantities. Continuing, witness said that on August 11(1 signs of heating were noticeable in the old workings, and on search being made ihe trouble was located. .The conditions were reported normal at midnight. There had been no other signs of heating exception one occasion 10 weeks previously. Witness admitted receiving n letter from Inspector Bennie. Government Inspector, regarding the dangerous condition of the mine, particularly the old workings and tho main drive, owing to the accumulation of dry dust. The letter instructed the Company to immediately undertake spraying the dust with water to remove the danger. The letter added: "Although I have previously warned the Company of the danger little or nothing has been done to comply with my request regarding spraving the obi working's." in iew of the accident to Kelly. Inspector Bennie requested that "shot fires’ be appointed, as required by special rule ■jr,. ;uid that the accumulation of dry coal dust be dealt with in an adequate and proper manner. The report concluded: "Failure to comply with my request will be followed by prosecution for breaches of the act." On August 23 the company received intimation from Inspector Bennie that it might be necessary to insist on the use of safety lamps. : . _ . . , Keplying to Police Inspector Wright, witness said that spraying had been done regularly in the main shaft, but it was not considered necessary to spray the old working. Asked if he had any theory as to how the explosion occurred, witness replied in the negative. The company carried its own insurance risks. . , ~ Continuing. Mr Fletcher said that if the men had pressed their desire for safety lamps they could have had them One hundred electric safety lamps had been ordered by the company while hone but; safety lamps, would be used in future. The mine was a damp and cool one. , , A number of the men who succeeded in escaping uninjured stated that the workings seemed as usual on J-he morning of tho explosion. Ail declared that they had previously found them free of gas, though the majority had noticed dry coal dust in varying quantities at different places. The inquest "was adjourned until tomorrow.

MINERS’ UNION MEETING. REQUEST FOR RESIGNATIONS. AUCKLAND, Sept. 23. At ;v meeting of one hundred tr.embtsxM of thn Kuntlr Miners Huton Jast

night, at which Messrs Semple and Webb wore present, it was decided to request Mr Dixon (president), who secured a verdict for £IOOO in a recent dbel action against the Maoriland Worker, together with all members of the executive, to resign. ANT APPEAL FOR RELIEF. Trades Hall, Wellington. Sept. 19, 1914. To the Editor. Sir, —In order to make ample provision for the dependents of those who lost their lives in the recent catastrophe at 3-luntly, it was decided at a representative meeting of labour men held in Wellington on September 17 to inaugurate a national fund to be known as the Huntly Disaster Relief • Ftmd. To ensure the success of this most worthy project, the assistance of your valuable paper is sought. It has been decided that the headquarters of the fund be in Wellington, from which centre the national committee will, acting upon the advice of a representative local committee in Huntly, administer assistance to all entitled to it. Already appeals have been issued to Ministers’ Associations, various churches, labour organisations, racing clubs, and all other bodies that might assist in any way. The committee feels certain that, despite the heavy donations made to the patriotic fund, the people of New Zealand will liberally respond to assist the widows and orpnans whose breadwinners were snatched by death under such tragic circumstances. The following have been appointed as a management committee of the fund—A. H. Cooper (Wellington Butchers), chairman: F. Cornwell (Painters), treasurer; Messrs L. M. A. Reardon (United Labour Party), and J. Read (United Federation of Labour), joint secretaries; Messrs 11. E. Holland. S. Gordon, trustees; Messrs Laracy (Shearers); P. H. Hickey, W. Noot (Tramways): G. Blatherwick (Carpenters); A. Croskery (Drapers), and W. Watcrworth (Tailors) committee. —Yours faithfully. A. 11. COOPER, chairman, L. M. A. RBAKDEN. .1. READ, Joint Secretaries.