January 21, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 177 (d). To any mine at which the total number of, employees is 500 or more, if the owner, agent or manager has acquired the privilege of ( obtaining the use of a suitably constructed motor ambulance carriage when required from a central rescue station, hospital or other place distant not more than 10 miles from the mine, and in telephonic communication with the mine and the inspector of the division is satisfied that the arrangements are such as to ensure the prompt attendance of the carriage at the mine. A group of mines belonging to the same owner or to owners who have entered into an arrangement for the joint provision of an ambulance carriage shall for the purpose of this regulation be treated as one mine, if all the shafts or exits for the time being in use in working the mines lie within a circle having a radius of not more than 2 miles, or where a motor ambulance carriage is provided in constant readiness and facilities exist at each mine for summoning the carriage by telephone, 5 miles. Part Y. Surface Lines and Sidings. For the full text of the regulations as originally issued in the form of special rules, see Colliery Guardian, May 26, 1911. The regulations are numbered 147 to 168. Part YI. Additional Regulations for Sinking. For the purpose of the regulations, kibble includes kettle, hoppit, tub, bowk, barrel or cage. (169.) In addition to the daily examination required by Section 66 of the Act, the master sinker, or a competent person appointed for the purpose by the Manager, shall once at least in every twenty-four hours examine thoroughly the state of the shaft and the state of all gear by which cradles, platforms, or pumps are slung in the shaft or by which persons or material are raised or lowered. (170.)—(a.) The manager shall fix by a notice which shall be kept posted at the top of the shaft in a prominent position the number of persons who may ride in the kibble at one time, and the banksman or chargeman as the case may be shall not allow any person to ride in excess of that number. (6.) No person shall ride on or against a full kibble or on the edge of a kibble. (171.) No engine worked by mechanical power other than a fixed engine shall be used for lowering and raising persons and material in the shaft. (172.) Every cradle or platform used in the shaft shall be constructed with a grid or other suitable contrivance, when necessary to secure the efficient ventilation of the whole of the shaft. (173.) Every cradle or platform on which men work in the shaft shall be so protected as to prevent any one falling off. (174.) While men are at work on any cradle or platform in the shaft the following precautions shall be strictly observed:— (а) The cradle or platform shall be secured to the sides of the shaft in order to prevent its swinging. (б) The flap over the kibble hole shall be securely fastened. (c) If the cradle or platform is constructed of two or more pieces hinged, the pieces shall be securely bolted together. (d) The cradle or platform shall not be moved except by the express direction of the manager or master sinker. (175.) If work is carried on during the night the surface at the shaft top shall be efficiently lighted. (176.) The competent person appointed under section 14 of the Act shall during his shift have entire charge of the operations in the shaft bottom, subject, however, to the directions of the master sinker or of the manager of the mine, and is hereinafter referred to as the charge- man. (177.) The examination required to be made by the chargeman before the commencement of work shall be made immediately before the descent of the shift. (178.) The chargeman shall as part of his examination before the commencement of work, or if work is carried on without any interval by a succession of shifts, then as part of his examinations during his shift, examine carefully the sides of the shaft, take off any loose stones, and otherwise satisfy himself that the shaft is in a safe condition for men to work at the bottom. When men are engaged in walling or tubbing the shaft a similar examination shall be made by a competent person appointed by the manager. (179.) The chargeman shall be the last man to ride at the end of the shift, and, if his shift is succeeded imme- diately by another shift, he shall not leave the bottom of the shaft until after the descent of the chargeman of the next shift. (180.) When stone, coal or debris or gear, tools or materials are being sent to the surface the chargeman shall see— (a) that the kibble is properly loaded; (5) that no stones, coal or debris are packed above the level of the top of the kibble; (c) that gear, tools or materials are put into an empty kibble, and, if they project above the level of the top, are securely fastened to the bow of the kibble before the kibble is sent away; (d) that the kibble before being sent away from the bottom is put into line with the pulleys and carefully steadied, and that the bottom and sides are free from adhering stones and dirt. (181.) No person shall be allowed to descend after any cessation of work in the shaft caused by the withdrawal of the workmen for shot firing or other purposes until the chargeman, accompanied if necessary by not more than one other person, has descended and examined the shaft and found it to be safe in all respects. If inflammable gas has been found or is likely to be found in the shaft the examination shall be made with a locked safety lamp of a type which will indicate the presence of such gas. (182.) The winding engineman shall not work the winding engine when men are in the shaft except in pursuance of a signal received from the banksman. (188.) When lowering the kibble the winding engine man shall stop it when it has reached a point three fathoms above the bottom of the shaft or above any cradle or platform and shall wait the signal from the banksman to let it down. When raising the kibble he shall stop the engine as soon as the kibble has been raised four feet from the bottom, in order that the chargeman may steady the rope, and shall not again move his engine until he has received the signal from the banksman. (184.) When gear, tools or materials are being lowered the banksman shall see (a) that the kibble is properly loaded (6) that no loose material is packed above the level of the top of the kibble, and (c) that gear or tools are put into an empty kibble, and if they project above the level of the top are securely fastened to the bow of the kibble, and (d) that timber and other bulky articles are safely slung. (185.) The banksman shall at all times keep the shaft top and landing edge free from loose material. (186.) The following signals shall be used:— If the banksman wishes to send the kibble down he shall first signal to the winding engineman to lift........................... 1 and when the kibble is lifted and the banksman is ready for the kibble to be lowered, he shall signal to the engine- man and chargeman ................. 2 If the chargeman wishes the kibble sent down he shall signal to the banksman and engineman........................ 2 If the chargeman wishes the kibble raised he shall first signal to the banksman and to the engineman to lift......... 1 and when the kibble is lifted and the chargeman is ready for the kibble to go away, he shall signal to the banksman and engineman...................... 2 If men are going to ride the banksman or chargeman as the case may be shall in addition to, and before, giving the signals above-mentioned signal to the chargeman or banksman as the case may be, and to the engineman......... 3 To stop the kibble when in motion, signal 1 (187.) No person other than the banksman or charge- man shall give any signal unless he is an official of the mine or is authorised in writing by the manager to give signals. Part YII. Repeal. All special rules in force at any mine under any Act repealed by the Coal Mines Act, 1911, at the time when these Regulations come into force are hereby revoked, but the revocation shall not affect any penalty incurred in respect of an offence committed against any such special rule or any legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such penalty and any such legal proceeding may be instituted or continued and any such penalty may be imposed as if the special rule had not been revoked. It is stated that the boring for coal, at the foot of Crosby Hill, near Scunthorpe, on Sir Berkeley Sheffield's estate, has been stopped. STORAGE OF MIXED EXPLOSIVES. An Order in Council (No. 16b) has been made under the Explosives Act, 1875 (38 and 39 Viet. c. 17), amending Order in Council of October 26, 1896 (No. 16) relating to the keeping of mixed explosives on registered premises. Statutory Rules and Orders .* No. 1861. The Order prescribes that the maximum quantity of explosive allowed to be kept on premises registered for the keeping of mixed explosives shall be the following:— (1) If the only explosive kept be one or more of the following: (a) Gunpowder; (b) Small-arm nitro-compound; (c) Ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6; The maximum shall be: In Mode A. Lb. Gunpowder and small- arm nitro-compound, in all............. 200 And, in addition, of ex- plosive contained in ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6... 500 In Mode B. Lb. Gunpowder........... 50 or in lieu of each pound of gunpowder not so kept, two pounds of small-arm nitro-compound. And, in addition, of ex- plosive contained in ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6... 500 (2) If the only explosive kept be one ior more of the following: (a) Fireworks; (b) Ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6; The maximum shall be: In Mode A. Lb. Fireworks ........ 200* And, in addition, of ex- plosive contained in ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6... 500 In Mode B. Lb. Fireworks ......... 50* And, in addition, of ex- plosive contained in ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6... 500 (3) In any other case the maximum shall be: In Mode A. Lb. Mixed explosives (in- cluding gunpowder) 60 And, in addition, of ex- plosive contained in ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6... 500 In Mode B. Lb. Mixed explosives (in- cluding gunpowder) 15 And, in addition, of ex- plosive contained in ammunition of the 1st Division of Class 6... 500 (4) Provided that in each of the three cases above mentioned the aggregate amount kept on the premises in Mode A and Mode B together may not in any case exceed the maximum amount which may be kept in Mode A. And General Bule No. 3 of Part I. of the said Order in Council of the 26th October, 1896 (No. 16), is amended accordingly. * By Order in Council of the 11th May, 1906 (No. 16a), these quantities are doubled if the only fireworks kept are “ shop-goods " as therein defined. Coal Trade Benevolent Association.—The statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year shows a total of £4,434 19s. lid. from the receipts column, and the grants for relief show £2,297 7s. 6|d. The directors' report, presented by Mr. Albert Usher (the retiring chairman), gratefully acknowledges the invaluable help of the Bight Hon. Earl Fitz william as president during the past year, and announces that the Bight Hon. the Earl of Durham has kindly accepted the presidency for 1913. The annual festival is appointed for April 28 next at the Hotel Cecil. The board have elected Mr. W. G. Phillips (of Ansley Hall Colliery) as chairman, and Mr. H. C. Bolfe (of Lancaster's Steam Coal Collieries Limited), as vice-chairman for the ensuing year. Second International Congress on Rescue Work and Prevention of Accidents.—The second Congress on Bescue Work and the Prevention of Accidents will be held on September 9-13 next in Vienna, under the patronage of the Archduke Leopold Salvator. The proceedings will be conducted by 10 sections dealing with :—(1) First medical aid in accidents; (2) the training of the laity in first-aid work; (3) rescue work in urban and rural districts; (4) rescue work in railway and automobile accidents; (5) rescue work at sea,