THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 196, 23 September 1914, Page 10

THE HUNTLY DISASTER.

ANOTHER DEATH OCCURS. INQUEST OPENS TO-DAY. Press Association. , HUNTLY, September 23. The body of Thomas Berry, engine driver, aged, 29, has been recovered from the Huntly mine, and this morning, so far as is known only one body, that of William Smith, deputy-, aged 60, and a married man, is now below. John Jackson, aged 20, a clipper, a single man, one of the three injured men taken to the Waikato Hospital, died this morning. Another of the injured, Alfred Peckham, junr., is slow of recovery. Young Jackson's . death makes the third victim in the Jackson family—the father and two sons. / Altogether forty bodies have been recovered, and two deaths have occurred in hospital, while ' one' is , still en*tombed. The inquest on the victims opens today, before Mr Rawson, S.M., Mr P. S. K. Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, represents the Crown, and Mr Tuuks will be present on behalf of the company. THE EXTENDED MINE. MEN GIVE TROUBLE. The extended Mine in which about 250 men are usually employed, should

have started work this morning, but the miners refused to recommence operations unless they were granted an increase from 2/7 to 3/- per ton, as they declare that the compulsory use of safety lamps will reduce their output, owing to the reduced volume of illumination as compared with naked lights. The company offered an increase .of one penny, but this the men refused.

The shift men also demanded a rise of from 11/4 to 12/6 a dav, and truckers from 9/8 to 10/6. A deadlock, therefore, exists.

The Miners' Union held a meeting this morning, and decided that a deputation should approach the directors on the matter. The meeting also decided not to recommence work until all the bodies have been recovered.