The Mount Kembla Royal Commission.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11953, 23 May 1903, Page 5

The Mount Kembla Royal Commission.

USE OF NAKED LIGHTS 00N- ; ■ DEMNED.

Press Association—Telegraph—Copyright.

SYDNEY, May 22.

The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the Mount Kemibla disaster find that it was caused by a fall in 35-acra waste, which drove the inflammable mixture and firedamp air down to the right; main'level in the northern extremity. The mass reached a wheeler's light in aw overdiluted .state, buit as soon as the mixture was rich enough to burn it came in contact with a light, and <a flash of flame rau. back, starting a destructive action by igniting the whole body, which was made more violently explosive by thle presence of coal dust, raised by the first blast. Thus the centre force showed itself at the centre of the explosion and Mob at the ignition point. This conclusion is at variance with the Coronial finding. The Commission found tlie work of inspeetdloni of the wastes perfunctory. Instead! of being performed weekly, it was performed monthly. They thought Rogers, whoso duty it was to see this Aras done, was deserving of censure. It was regrettable that this breach of the rales had escaped the notice of the .Government' inspectors. The. use •f. naked lights was condemned. It could be said with absolute certainty that if they had not been used the disaster would have been prevented.