THE DOBSON MINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19865, 13 June 1927, Page 8

THE DOBSON MINE

ENQUIRY INTO DISASTER COMMISSION SITS AT GREYMOUTH. [Per Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, June 10. The inquiry into the Dobson Coliery disaster opened to-day, Mr E. Page, S.M., presiding, with Mr John Watson (superintendent of the Taupiri mines) and Mr William Balderstone (secretary of the West Coast Mines Council). The Commission first inspected the mine and the workings. John Smeaton, president of the Grey Valley Miners’ Union, said he was working at the mine on the night of December 2. He detailed the circumstances of the explosion at about 3 a.m. on December 3. He considered that the mine officials had honestly endeavoured to keep the colliery free of gas. For ten weeks prior to the explosion witness neard no complaints of gas till the night before, when there were complaints. He considered the regulations under the Mining Act would be satisfactory if they were fully enforced. The Dobson Mine officials had too much work, said witness, and a need existed for stricter supervision of the men. The explosive used was monobel, to which he had no objection. Gas was always aceumulting in the rise workings of the Dobson mine, and the east level was cut off last August in consequence, since when the mine seemed to improve. The Department inspectors were always thorough. There was no danger from electric lamps, but witness considered that holings at the face for blasting should be three feet deep.

Coal Dust or Gas? He thought the explosion originated in the dip workings, where the victim Brammer worked, and he considered that the great force of the explosion was due to the ignition of coal dust rather than gas. The process of grunching out coal created dust. Shot firing had, in cases, been improperly done at Dobson. Witness considered that the firers needed more qualifications, and that if the deputies fired the shots it would be safer. Except in the rise, Dobson was no gassier a mine than others in which witness had worked. Witness did not credit the theory that electric sparks below caused the explosion. The men at the face should know how to test the safety lamps. The State Mine rescue apparatus was not suitable for the Dobson. The mine had been secured by a strong man, an exinspector. More air was going down the Dobson than any other mine on the West Coast, but witness warned his union in August that if firing did not improve there would be trouble.

Safety Lamps. Isaac A. James, State Mine Superintendent, said that the regulations were sufficient if the officials supervised. Coal dust should be examined half-yearly or as deemed necessary. He did not favour monthly tests, as in England, where the mines were deeper and dirtier. The State Mino used stone dust from Ross to lay the coal dust. He did not favour giving safety lamps to any but reliable men, as the lamps were sometimes left hanging and by heating could ignite the gas. He considered electric lamps safer in gas. Mr Balderstone: “Yon would not get many to agree with that.” Witness thought that if the explosion was not due to a naked light, the cause was spontaneous combustion. He considered that the explosion originated in the rise workings, and not from shot firing.