MAITLAND FIRE.
FIREDAMP NOT SUSPECTED. Sydney Sun Cables. SYDNETY, September 6. The Chief Inspector of Mines’ report on the BelTbird 'Colliery disaster has been submitted to the Cabinet- It states that records indicated no presence of firedamp, and consequently naked lights were used. There had previously been two small fires, the first in, 1917 and the second in 1919, apparently caused by naked lights accidentally Igniting the brattice. As far as the inspector can conjecture last week’s fire appeared to be caused accidentally, but by what means he is unable to say. The report suggests that when the fire started ventilation evidently fanned it into flames and the outbreak spread rapidly, being distributed by gas from the coal. As a result of this there were a number of explosions, two of which occurred while the rescuers were In the mine.
The Premier, Sir George Puller, promises that, Should it be necessary, after the inquest he will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the disaster.
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Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15335, 8 September 1923, Page 8
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165MAITLAND FIRE. Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15335, 8 September 1923, Page 8
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