DOBSON MINE

Southland Times, Issue 20202, 13 June 1927, Page 8

DOBSON MINE

RECENT DISASTER INQUIRY RESUMED AT GREYMOUTH FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD • (Per United Press Association.) Greymouth, June 12. At the Dobson disaster inquiry, John Ford deposed that he worked in number two dip a day before the explosion. There was no suspicion of danger when he left that night. He was not satisfied with the methods of shot firing used at the mine. When shots were fired he left for a place of refuge. This dip was very dusty and dangerous. Conditions had improved in the last six months but they did not compare well with the precautions in British mines where witness had worked. The officials at the Dobson mine were overworked. Black and Marshall, a fortnight before the disaster, told witness the fan had caught fire, Marshall stating sparks Hew when a deputy tried to turn on the electricity. An explosion in No. 2 dip could extend up the main stone drive. Every miner should be able to test his own place for gas. Witness found gas in No. 1 and 3 dips. The mine was very gassy. Deputies should only have to do inspection work. The Dobson shot firers were reliable. The deputies and underviewers there had to fire shots but should not have to do such work. There was considerable “grunching” done, causing extra dust. He only saw one search made for matches and tobacco on the men. Coal dust was mainly responsible for the violence of the explosion. Thomas Reid, a miner, said that at 9.40 p.m. on the night before the explosion, he encountered gas, consequently leaving his place and telling Deputy Little who did not examine the place to which witness did not return before knocking off. There was plenty of air except at the working face. Two oil lamps - were brought away from near witness’s place at the end of the shift. The rise workings were dangerously dusty. Edward Keating deposed that Black told him of flame shooting out of the motor the day before the explosion which Noakes reported to the engineer who was dubious when Black also told him he saw smoke. The hole cuts for shot complied with the regulations. In his opinion the explosion started in Black's place. Only a few men resorted to grunching. The flame evidently came from under the motor. The covering dust was not dangerous. There was no check on electric lamps issued to the men. The shooting in places looked suspicious. Witness had refused to fire a shot for Brammer. He knew of no case of miners firing their own shots. He considered the mine safe and sufficiently ventilated. Robert Marshall said two weeks before the disaster his father told him flames three or four feet long were seen coming from the motor. James Ford said his place was free from gas the night before the explosion. The shots were well fired. He knew of no men working in gas. He had no suspicion of anyone smoking. No. 2 dip was dusty to the top. He had no idea where the explosion occurred. Carl Roberts, union secretary, said the mine was free of gas the day before the disaster. Noakes would be careful after he saw sparks from under the motor cover on December 2. There was no smoking. Smeaton warned the men and George Little, in charge of the shift from 3 to 11 p.m. on December 2, said an inspection of the working places after crib revealed no trace of gas. Dust in Black’s place might have caused ignition. Conditions for six weeks had been good. The rise workings were not dusty and he only had seen one that was badly prepared. The deputies were overworked in a “goaf” 40 feet wide that required watching for gas. Miners should test their own places. Safety lamps were left hanging by the miners for others to collect. Electric lamps were preferred, i Hanging safety lamps were no danger. He heard nothing of flame from the motor, iNo dip was dusty enough to cause a|n explosion. One dangerous shot had been fired in Noakes’ place. William Chetwyn said there were gas j and dust in the mine working. He had seen shots fired on gas. The men in No. 2 dip had worked in gas owing to the lack of I brattice. After the disaster, he found a piece of candle without a wick in Brammers’ place. Edward Hallinan said the mine was not very dusty nor was gas making in Reed’s place but the brattice was down. He had no theory of the explosion. At the Paparoa mine, the men had refused to work in gas similar to that in the Dobson mine. One shot fired in Noakes’ place had been dangerous. Witness found two pieces of insulated wire within two chains of Noakes’ place, not the kind used for shot firing but possibly it could be used for so doing.