January 16, 1914. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 138 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. hard heading. He believed that a fall of roof caused sparks and brought down gas with it. He did not agree with the suggestion that the fall might have broken a lamp. Mr. Joseph M. Carey, mines inspector for the Newport district, then gave evidence. Mr. Kenshole examined witness with regard to inspections of the colliery, and asked to see a certain report that had been made to witness of an examination of the colliery.—Dr. Atkinson said that there was no objection to giving the report, but it was against the rules of the Home Office.—Mr. Carey said there was nothing reported that warranted his calling the serious attention of Dr. Atkinson to it. Coroner’s Summing-up. On Wednesday the coroner, Mr. David Rees, reviewed the evidence at some length before the jury retired. He said he thought that the colliery company had placed before him candidly all the information they could give to try to disentangle the problem. The mines inspectors, too, he believed, had given all the help, they possibly could. The system of ventilation had been criticised, but Dr. Atkinson, the chief inspector of mines for South Wales, had said he did not think there was any very serious defect in the system of ventilating the West York district, although he admitted that it would have been better to have an intake of air direct into that district. It had also been suggested that the requirements of the Act of Parliament had not been complied with in that it did not appear that on the morning of October 14 the barometer had been read and a record of it kept according to the Act. There was generally some importance to be attached to a barometer, but the importance of it in connection with this explosion was another matter entirely. He understood that there was a difference of opinion as to whether there was any obligation to enter in a book the readings of the barometer and thermometer. Mr. Shaw (the manager of the colliery) had admitted that the book was not kept, and he (the coroner) did not agree with the views advanced by counsel. He differed in many respects. He differed when it was stated that it was not necessary for those readings by the firemen to be recorded in a book. The rules and the Act of Parliament were as plain as they could be, and there was here, according to Mr. Shaw, a breach of the regulations. Regulations, however, might be broken and not have any effect upon the explosion, and, so far as that enquiry was concerned, the breaking of regulations was not important unless it had a direct bearing upon the matter under consideration. It was also stated that there were a good many blowers in that colliery, but, judging from the evidence, he did not think there were any more blowers in the Universal Mine than in an average colliery of the same size in South Wales. The greater the current of air the less likelihood there was of the gases given off by these blowers becoming dangerous. Analysing the evidence as to the direction of forces and the various theories which had been advanced, the Coroner said he agreed with the experts called by the colliery company rather than with the inspectors of mines. Referring to the lamproom theory, he said it was highly undesirable to have a naked light so far from the pit bottom. Some criticism had been offered regarding the rescue of men from the Botanic district, and it would be well if the jury gave their opinion on this point. He disregarded entirely the statement that this was a deadly dangerous mine. As to the theories about the seat of the explosion, he disregarded that of Col. Pearson, who considered the explosion was caused by a damaged lamp. He did not think there was any criminal liability, but there might have been an error of judgment. The Verdict. The following are the findings of the jury in detail:— That death was due to accidental causes. That the colliery was properly ventilated and properly inspected on the morning of the explosion. That there was a sufficient number of examiners. That the explosion was due to gas, and fed by coaldust. That there was systematic cleaning of the floors of the roads, but they thought more attention should be given to the roof and sides. They suggested the placing of sprinklers much nearer to the working places than at present, and urged the Home Office to endeavour to find means for dealing with the dust problem. There was insufficient evidence to state clearly the place where the explosion originated, but there was a preponderance of evidence to enable them to fix the lamp station as the provable starting point. They were unable to say whether the gas was ignited by a spark from the electric wire, but the evidence pointed to the naked light at the lamp station as the cause of ignition. There was no neglect on the part of any persons contributing to the deaths of the victims. The jury also made the following recommendations :— 1. That the lamp station be placed in the archway near the shaft. 2. That the water tanks should be fitted with a sprayer instead of the men having to use shovels and buckets. 3. We are of opinion that there is an insufficient number of inspectors of mines to enable a thorough inspection of the colliery being made as often as it should be done, Home Office Explanation. The Home Secretary on Monday addressed the following letter to the Coroner:— " Home Office, Jan. 12, 1914. "Sir,—I am directed by the Secretary of State to state that he notices in the newspaper reports of Friday's proceedings at the inquest in connection with the Senghenydd disaster that certain pro- tests were made on the ground that the Home Office were refraining from advancing, through its representatives, any theory as to the cause of the disaster, and as it is suggested that the enquiry before you may be embarrassed in consequence, he desires, in courtesy to yourself and those who are taking part in the enquiry, to explain why it has been necessary for. him to take this course. As is known, the Secretary of State has, in accordance with the practice which has been adopted in recent years and at the urgent request of the mineral representatives, directed an investigation to be made, under the special powers given by the Coal Mines Act, into the causes and circumstances of the disaster, and has appointed the Chief Inspector of Mines, with two assessors (one the president of the South Wales Coalowners' Association and the other the president of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain), as a court to conduct the investigation. At that investigation all the available evidence will have to be heard and sifted, and all possible theories as to the cause of the disaster carefully weighed by the Chief Inspector, with his assessors, and on the report of their conclusions the Home Office will have to decide as to the action to be taken both in regard to this particular disaster and generally as to precautionary measures for the future. " The Secretary of State is sure that you will see, and the parties interested also will see, that in the circum- stances it would be impossible for the Home Office, through its representatives, to advance any theory of its own at the inquest without gravely prejudicing the judicial character of the enquiry which is to follow. The Commissioner who is holding the enquiry is the chief expert adviser of the Home Office, and for the Home Office to put forward and to support by examination and cross-examination of witnesses at the inquest a theory of its own would amount to a prejudging of the case before the evidence had been fully heard. " It will be remembered that the request for a special enquiry under the Act was made by the miners’ repre- sentatives, and was promised by the Secretary of State immediately after the disaster, and that the matter was regarded by them of such special importance that they pressed for the constitution of a court of an exceptional character for the purpose of conducting it. " The Secretary of State regrets that the two enquiries should have overlapped, and he had hoped that some arrangements might have been made, as has been done in other cases, to minimise any inconvenience and embarrassment which might result. As no other arrange- ment could be made, the Chief Inspector reluctantly agreed to adjourn the Home Office enquiry, in order that the inquest might proceed at once, as you desired. It will, however, be resumed immediately after the termination of the inquest, and every effort will be made to deal exhaustively with the scientific and technical aspects of the case, and to arrive as speedily as possible at definite conclusions.—I am, sir, your obedient servant, " (Signed) Edward Troup. "David Rees, Esq., H.M. Coroner for the Eastern District of Glamorgan, 41, Mill-street, Pontypridd." ____________________________ IMIG MD OTHER H0TES» The Geological Society of London will this year awards its medals and funds as follows:—The Wollaston Medal to Dr. J. E. Marr, F.R.S. ; the Murchison Medal to Mr. W. A. E. Ussher; the Lyell Medal to Mr. C. S. Middlemiss, B.A.; the Wollaston Fund to Mr. R. B. Newton; the Murchison Fund to Mr. F. N. Haward ; and the Lyell Fund to the Rev. W. Howchin and Mr. J. Postlethwaite. Mr. T. Bell presided at a meeting held in. Newcastle, on Monday, of representatives of the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce, the Sunderland Chamber of Com- merce, and large manufacturers and merchants on Tyne, Wear and Tees, to consider the attitude to be taken up at the meeting in London with the railway managers, on the question of the increase of 4 per cent, in railway rates. It was agreed to place the following resolution on the agenda for the meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce:— " That inasmuch as the increase of 4 per cent, in railway rates weighs heavily on many manufacturers of the United Kingdom, it is imperative that it should be demonstrated by the railway companies before the Railway and Canal Commissioners, or otherwise, that this charge does not exceed the provisions of the Act of March 1913, and that a sub-committee of the various Chambers of Commerce interested be formed." The will of Mr. Arthur Chamberlain, of Moor Green Hall, near Birmingham, chairman of Kynoch's, has been sworn at the value of .£143,588 8s. gross and .£125,660 18s. 9d. net. into the United Kingdom last year:— Year. Loads. 1911 ...... 2,896,009 1912 ...... 2,925,806 1913 ...... 3.451.328 .... Sir William Henry Preece, K.C.B., F.R.S., twice president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, a former president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, left estate of the gross value of £32,320, of which the net personalty has been sworn at £22,074. Sir William Henry Bailey, Sale Hall, Sale, Cheshire, managing director of W. H. Bailey and Co. Limited, engineers, Salford, inventor of numerous recording and testing instruments, has left estate the gross value of which is £68,313, with net personalty £37,394. Mr. William Dunbar Kilburn, late of Calcutta, has left estate of which £17,610 is net personalty. Mr. R. G. Scott, manager of the steel department of the Monk Bridge Iron and Steel Company, of Leeds, has, after many years' service, tendered his resignation to the board of directors, who have accepted it. Mr. Philip Bnrtt, passenger manager of the North- Eastern Railway, is retiring after a service of 36 years. Mr. Burtt entered the service of the North-Eastern Railway in 1877 on the staff of the general goods manager. Sir George Gibb appointed him his chief personal assistant, and in 1897, on the death of Mr. John Welburn, he was appointed superintendent of the line. In December 1900 Mr. Burtt was appointed general traffic manager, and he subsequently became deputy general manager. In 1906, on the appoint- ment of Sir (then Mr.) 4. Kaye-Butterworth as general manager, in succession to Sir George Gibb, Mr. Burtt became chief traffic manager, though still continuing to act as deputy manager. The imports of coal, coke and manufactured fuel into the United Kingdom fell to the normal last year, showing a considerable decrease on the figures for 1912:— v Quantity. Value. Year- Tons. £ 1911 ...... 30,187 .... 29,779 1912 ...... 191,768 .... 276,516 .... 1913 ...... 24,029 .... 36,700 The following shows the imports of pit props and pitwood Value. £ .... 3,376,086 .... 3,660,388 4,445,066 We understand that Messrs. Best's Safety Lamps Limited have been favoured with a repeat order for 900 No. 1 Excelsior safety lamps from the Londonderry Collieries Limited, for their Seaham Colliery, near Sunderland, making the total ordered up to the present 1,500 lamps including all the necessary appliances, lamp stands on which the lamps are electrically ignited, &c. The lamps are fitted with Best's magnetic unpickable lock, which, it is claimed, is the most powerful spring magnetic lock on the market. The Corporation of Glasgow are carrying on a vigorous campaign against the emission of black smoke from the chimneys of public works within their area. It has been proposed that the Corporation should ask the Government specially to give facilities for a full discussion of the Smoke Abatement Bill which Lord Newton is to introduce into the House of Lords during the forthcoming session of Parlia- ment. This Bill was drafted by the Smoke Abatement League of Great Britain, and was introduced into, and favourably received by, the House of Commons in 1913. In the event of the Government being of the opinion that the Bill should not become law, the Corporation are to urge that a Royal Commission be appointed to consider the whole question of smoke abatement. The Central Association of Miners’ Permanent Relief Funds have appointed the following gentlemen to attend the conference to be held at the Mansion House, London, on the 19th January, to consider the advisability of forming a national permanent fund to meet distress arising out of colliery disasters:—Mr. James Darlington, J.P., chairman of the council of the Central Association, and North Wales Society; Mr. William Barnes, secretary of the Northumber- land and Durham Society; Mr. J. A. Harrop, secretary of the North Wales Society; Mr. George Booth, secretary to the Central Association and West Riding of Yorkshire Society. Calendars, almanacs, &c., have been received from Messrs Harrison Brothers (Atlas Foundry, Middlesbrough) Andrew Barclay, Sons and Co. Limited (Kilmarnock), Mavor and Coulson Limited (Mile End, Glasgow), R. Y. Pickering and Co. Limited (Wishaw, N.B ), Peckettand Sons (Bristol). Messrs. Nobel's Explosives Company Limited (Glasgow), send us a useful desk pad. Arrangements have recently been concluded for the establishment by Tarmac Limited, of Wolverhampton, of new works at Middlesbrough on land belonging to the North Eastern Steel Company Limited. These new works, which are expected to be ready for operation within six months from date, will commence with an output of 2,000 to 2,500 tons per week of tarred slag, manufactured from slag produced at the North Eastern Steel Company's blast furnaces. In the event of anticipations being realised, it is intended to increase the output of the works to 4,000 tons of tarred slag weekly. The new machinery will be electrically operated, current being taken from the network supply of the Cleveland and Durham Electric Power Limited.