NIGHTCAPS MINE DISASTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2043, 21 November 1907, Page 1

NIGHTCAPS MINE DISASTER.

FINDINGS OF ROYAL COMMISSION. REFLECTIONS ON MINE MANAGER. LAXITY ON PART OF INSPECTOR. Special to Times. ■WELLINGTON, Nov. 20. TOio report of tho Royal pomimissiom appointed to inquire initio tllie disaster in tllie Nigjliiton.ps coal mine on Juno 21st last lias been presented to Parti'a.menit. The Commissiiomeirs boforo dealing specifically with tho questions submitted to thorn give a summary of the history of tho mino and of tho creinits that led up to tllie disaster. Tlhto evidence regarding tho firo aind tllio loss of life is stated at length. It is also mentioned that as compensation to the relatives of tho mem. wlho lost their lives itllio company has paid the sum of £2200, with £E2o costs. The Commissioners had to find regia netting tho personal character ol tlio mine manager, John Lloyd, and his conduct at the time, Of the disaster. They report as follows: —“Lloyd was a mail of intemperate batata, who. on several times claming tho past few years had prohibition orders made against ham. it is said, however, that since the disaster lie inns been a total abstainer, and his employers retain their confidence in him. Ho has passed no examination for certificates, because lie was actually in change of a mine when the Act of 1335, providing for. tho issue of mime ina,angers’ certificaites, camo unto force. He is, however, a man of considerable intelligence, who has risen up from a working miner to the position of manager. His employers evidently value his services highly. They have retained him in .their employ for 26 years, and jin J.une last were paying lnm £3O a .month up to this disaster. He has been, very successful in winning all .available coal at tho minimum, cost, ■and is making tho mine remunerative to the owners’. On the evening of the 20th Juno he went to tho house occupied by tiro Carsons, and before 10 p.m. had consumed the greater part of a bottle of whisky. Ho them ivent to sloop on a. sofa in Carson’s kitchen until about 3 a..m., when ho left, and was proceeding to his own home when lie mot Dixon. Instead of going at once to the miirto lie, occupied from three-quarters of an hour to am hour calling np three or four men. After five hours’ .sleep he was probably in appearance sober, but he would hardly be in the best condition to grapple with such an emergency as he was them called on to meet. THE ACTUAL DISASTER.

Dealing with the actual disaster •tho Commissioners state that wheat Lloyd entered the mine at 4.20 on Friday morning, he should have withdrawn all the men, made a careful a,nd cautious examination, a,nd only have sent men to work when it* had been ascertained that they could do so with safety. After sending Oarson and Welsh down the dip he allowed, far too long a time to elapse before ascertaining whether they weire safe. He took more drinik in tile mime,- a;nd this, combined with' Etc effect of the overnight potions and the foul air in the mine, incapacitated him from exercising sound judgment. THE FINDINGS.

Dealing with question's referred to tihem, tile Comm issiio*ners find that the deaths of the three men, Oa.rson, Welsh, and Duncan, were caused by poisonous gas. The cause of the disaster was the disregard of the manager of all precaution, statutory land otherwise, for the safety of coal-miners in the conditions existing a.t the time and in sending the men inito -a. poisonous atmosphere and- leaving them there for an unreasonably long time. Tho Commissioners find that the provisions of (the Coal Mines Aot, 1905, and the rules -tlhereuin-der were not observed in several particulars. _ Oil occlusions the ventilation was insufficient. The Commissioners also- • report that the daily examination of the. mine appears to have been. am. empty form*. A stereotyped entry was made in the undeiwiieiwer’s r report kook to the effect that he “had examined all working places and ■found all safe.” No mention .is made Of the tiro or any operations -connected therewith. As to the withdrawal of workmen in case of danger- the report states that the' men were .not withdrawn from the mine when the fire increased, and the presence of “black diamp” was ■evident. After the men had: gibbered at the open oast they wore sent into the dangerous area without due 'precaution,' although 'both Lysa.gliit and ‘ Somerville bod - suffered from, the-effects of poisonous gas. THE INSPECTOR" OF MINES.

As to the competency, of'the Inspector of -Mlines, the report ' states : —“Mr. E. It. Green is a well-train-ed and experienced man, with a competent knowledge of lias duties, but in this instance he has not acted with sufficient caution and firmness. -Mr. Greene did liiianself gra-ve injustice in the way he ga.ve-'his evidence. He seemed to have- to some extent lost his memory and judig-' nrent in the witness box, and -ad>v a need theories to account for wlmt actually happened' which. were' utterly erroneous.” The report details six matters in which tho inspector has show-in lfixdty,- and- the Comaniissibniers' add! —“On the whole wo do •not consider him' deserving of serious’oensiure, but the reimissness in matters * of detail adds to the probability of remissness in important -mat,tors. Mr. Greene duly reported the existence of the previous fires -and of the last fire in the mine to the Minister.” Mr. Forbes dissented from thle ■wording of the paragraph regarding the mine manager, apd substitutes a- minority report as to his in-compe-tency. During the course of Ids remarks lie says:—“As the result of the inefficient- inspection and management, three lives wero lost. The amount of the work the inspector hlas to do in no wiay excuses incapacity. The quality of his work on the occasion of’tike inspections his made was bad, and tho ignorance he displayed regarding mine gases when giving evidence before thle ■Commission- proves him to be incompetent as an inspector of mines for the purpose of protecting the lives of workman.” The report contains suggestions for prevention as far as possible of similar disasters and for the safer Working ill future of coal mines generally. Special- reference is made .to- tho following men wild acted so cousxdcuoußly on the morning of the disaster in -attempting to rescue

(tlhieir comrades at the risk of their lives, viz.: —’William: Jairdiino (deputy), Thos. Todd, Thos. Moniorielf (minor), Robt. McDowell (miner), Allexr. Dempster (miner), Roht. Sttieddoin (miner), and Johm Jobey (miner). Commissioners recommend them for some mark of approval of their gallant conduct.