COLLIERY RECKLESSNESS.

Inangahua Times, Issue 16, 23 September 1878, Page 2

COLLIERY RECKLESSNESS.

Tho Magistrates at tho Bolton County Polioo Court have very properly punishod a collier severely for ' rooklossness.' Tho onso was a very bad ono, and shows that tho most stringent regulations are of littlo avail to prevent accidonts in mines unless thoso (or whoso protection tho rulos aro laid down display somo littlo regard for their own nnd caoh. other's solely. Two colliers named Hoyos and BoUon were summoned undor • Tho .vlinos Regulation Ad, 1872," for illegally having matches in thoir possession while working in a coal* mino. Tho defendants woro omployed in o pit at Wosthoughton belonging to tho Brinsop Coal Company. On Juno 11, vhilo waiting for somo tubs, they amused thcmsolvos by wrestling, and a match foil from tho pookot of Hoyos. Tho tempta-. tion of running tho risk of an explosion was too much for Bolton, who picked up tho match, struck it, and throw it down. As explained by tho solicitor for tho pro* scoution, this act of tho dofondnnta might havo led to very serious consequences, for thoy wcro standing in a placo whoro only safoty lamps woro allowed to bo used. Thoy had rondcrod thomsolvos liablo to a penalty of £3 or thrco month's imprison* raont. Tho caso having been provod< Hoyes was sontoncod to six weeks' hard labor, iml a warrant was issuod against Bolton # who fivilod to ontor au appearance. Odo of tho mngistratcs remarked that ' thoy must rnuko an cxamplo of such fools/ Thoro is, howevor. something worso than folly in proceedings of this dosoription. ' Folly,' according to Locko, ' oonsists in tho drawing of fulso conclusions from just principles ;' but tho collier who strikes a ran lohin a mino full of gas nets on no tirinciplo whatovor. Ho endangers tho lives of himself and his follow-workmon from a brutal indifference to consequences and ranks littlo bolow tho standard of a wilful murdorcr.