GAS AND COAL DUST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19866, 14 June 1927, Page 7

GAS AND COAL DUST

THE DOBSON MINE Commission Takes Evidence on Cause of Disaster CONFLICTING STATEMENTS. [Per Press Association.] GREY MOUTH, Juno 12. At the inquiry into the Dobson disaster, John Ford said that he worked No. 2 dip the day before tho explosion. There was no suspicion of danger when he left that night. He was not satisfied with the methods of shot-firing used at the mine. When shots wert fired he left for a place of refuge. This dip was very dusty and dangerous. Officials at Dobson were over-worked. Thomas Reid, a miner, said that at 9.40 o’c|ck on the night before tho explosion ho encountered gas, consequently leaving the place and telling Deputy Little, who did not examine tho place, to which witness did not return before knocking off. There was plenty of air except at tho working face. Flames from Motor. Robert Marshall said two weeks before the disaster his father told him flames three or four feet long were seen coming from tho motor Carl_Roberts, union secretary, said the mine was free of gas tho day before the disaster. Noakes would bo careful. He saw sparks from under the motor cover on December 2. There was no smoking. Smeaton warnod tho men. George Little, in charge of the shift 3 to 11 p.m. on December 2, said an inspection of the working places after the crib revealed no trace of gas. Dust in Black’s place might have caused ignition. The conditions for six weeks had been good. A Dangerous Shot. Edward Hallinan said that the mine was not very dusty, nor was gas making in Reed’s place, but the brattice was down. He had no theory of tho explosion. At Paparoa mine the men had refused to work in gas similar to that in Dobson. One shot fired in Noake’s place had been dangerous. Witness found two pieces of insulated wire within two chains of Noake’s place. It was not the kind used for shot firing, but possibly it could be used for so doing. Due to Gas? Hughes, manager of the Dobson mine, stated that ho was acting-manager at the time of the explosion. He did not think heating caused ignition, but a tall from the roof could cause sparks, as also could a safety lamp left whero gas accumulated. He had instructed the underviewer two days before the explosion to see that the air was kept right up to tho working faces. Dust had attained dangerous proportions in some parts, and the Saturday before tho disaster witness had agreed with tho mines inspector to employ clay as a remedy. The officials in the mine were not overworked. He* was convinced that the initial explosion was due to gas. Nothing was done to prevent coal dust accumulating. Being only mine manager at the time he had no instructions tn use stone dust.