THE Thames Advertiser. SATURDAY, MAKRCH 11, 1899. Notes and Comments.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9296, 11 March 1899, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. SATURDAY, MAKRCH 11, 1899. Notes and Comments.

In our last issue we published a communication received by the Steward of the Ooromandel Miners' Union to the effect that a number of miners who recently left the Thames and Ooromandel to work in the Globe Co.'s mine at Reefton, have left, and that more are following. No reason whatever is given for the men leaving the employment of the company, Our readers will remember that a short time back advertisements appeared in the (Thames and Ooromandel papers at the time that a number of miners were out of work at that place, and that there must be something radically wrong when the unemployed miners there refused to work; but some of our men who were out of employment thought they would give it a trial, and now, after a short period of only a few weeks, news is received that some of them are returning. » « «

Referring to the matter the Ooro • mandel News remarks that "it is true that a man was killed in the mine some time back, that the jury disagreed at the inquest, and that an enquiry by the Inspector was the result; but that enquiry has not solved the mystery. The Inspector and Assistant Inspector visited the mine with the manager, Mr James Greenish, made a careful and thorough inspection, taking notes of every detail connected with the work* ings, timbering, vfiitilatinri, etc., and everything was found in a very satisfactory condition, On their rounds amongst the miners several inquiries were made as to the means taken for their safety, and they were also questioned as to any pressure having been brought to bear on them by the management with regard to the quan» tity of work performed, The general answer was that as miners they were never more comfortable at their work, and everything was done and every care taken to ensure their safety. Prior to this official visit, the secretary of the Inangahua Miners' Union made application for an inspection of the workings, and has been informed that the Inspecting Engineer, the Inspeotor of Mine's, and the Assistant Inspector are all acquainted with the workings in the Globe-Progress mino, and they are satisfied that at the time of their last inspections the workings were in a safe condition, In the face of this it is difficult to conceive why the men will not stay in the mine; but that there is something we have ample evidence, and we would advise Ooro* pndel miners not to venture to IM«

ton until they find out what that ' something' is." , * * * » It would now appeal', however, as i though the real oause of some of th«' men returning is that there is t/ scarcity of labor, due to the curtail- J ment of works. A Thames miner who' returned yesterday informs ns' that it is quite true that in some parts of the mine the workings are far from-safe, , and that in one or two places it :.s impossible to safely take out some of ; the blocks on the reef. But tho 1 reason for the discharge ( of the men is that they have completod ihe works in hand, and that there is no further employment at prt'sent. It would certainly seem as though the men have been harshly treated in being induced to incur th& expense of pro* j ceeding from the Thames and Ooro-' maudel to Eeeftou upon such a short engagement, hut we have no doubt that they will profit by the experience, and that on the next occasion they will insist upon some definite term, being specified. I