DOBSON DISASTER

Southland Times, Issue 20203, 14 June 1927, Page 7

DOBSON DISASTER

PROGRESS OF INQUIRY ACTING-MANAGER GIVES EVIDENCE INITIAL EXPLOSION DUE TO GAS (Per United Press Association.) Greymouth, June 13. Mr Hughes, manager of the Dobson mine, stated that he was acting-manager at the time of the explosion. Indications were that the line of force came from the rise in the working, and Unless it could be shown that such a line was from the dip, ignition must have been elsewhere than in the dip. He did not think that the heating caused the ignition but a fall from the roof could cause sparks, as also could a safety lamp left, where gas accumulated. If an ignition had occurred in Brammer’s place in the dip it would extend, but that place was wet, while Noakes’ place was damp. He did not think that Reid’s place was the scene of the explosion. He had instructed the underviewer two days before the explosion to see that the air was kept right up to the working faces. The dust had attained dangerous proportions in some parts, and the Saturday before the disaster witness had agreed with the Mines Inspector to employ clay as a remedy. He did not think the shots were fired improperly to any extent. The electrical equipment was satisfactory. He did not think gas accumulated in the “goaf.” There was no check on safety lamps. He had heard no complaint as to sparks from the electric motor and was satisfied after the disaster that there had been an explosion in Brammer’s place. He would have preferred if the electrical switch below had been immersed in oil. Possibly if the mine had been stone-dusted, the explosion would have been averted, and he thought stone dusting was essential. The officials in the mine were not overworked. He was convinced that the initial explosion was due to gas. There was not sufficient dust in the rise workings to carry it along. The explosion was probably off No. 5 or 6 heading. Nothing was done to prevent coal dust accumulating. Being only mine manager at the time he had no instructions to use stone dust. As to non-checking lamjis he had only followed the custom in vogue before he came. No record or system of search for lamps existed. The regulations should define the depth for shot holes without the present ambiguity. After an argument between witness and ex-manager Walter Leitch as to responsibility, witness saying that he did not feel that he could do as he liked in Leitch’s absence, the chairman, Mr Page S.M., said that Leitch was responsible for the system he had employed but not for anything else. Mr Hughes (to Mr Balderatone) said the explosion might have been due to heated coal, but the Dobson coal was not likely to bring about spontaneous combustion.