✨ Mining Safety Report
Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.
Vol. XXIII.] THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1874. [No. 17.
HAURAKI GOLD MINING DISTRICT.
Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 29th June, 1874.
The following Reports by the Mining Inspector at the Thames, upon the existence and development of Fire Damp in the “Crown Prince” Mine, are published for general information, with a view to the necessary precautions being adopted for the safety of persons employed in Mines upon the Goldfield.
J. Williamson,
Superintendent.
Grahamstown, 11th June, 1874.
Sir,— I have the honour to report, for your Honor’s information, that in the Crown Prince workings Fire Damp has been developed in volume.
This being the first instance of fire damp having shown itself in any quantity, my attention has been given to the subject in all its details.
On the 5th instant, gas was observed to issue from an orifice in the face of the Crown Prince stopes, in that portion which was being driven seawards, constituting what is termed a “blower.” On a candle being applied, ignition took place, and a slight explosion was the consequence.
On the 8th instant, I proceeded to make a full investigation, having with me miners well versed in the details of fiery mines.
On arriving near the orifice emitting the gas, a violent explosion took place, which knocked us down, and more or less injured all the party.
Whereupon I gave an order to the Manager to stop working in this part of the mine until proper steps should be taken to dispose of the gas.
Fortunately these fiery workings are situated in a remote corner of the mine, and this restriction will not interfere with the ordinary work of the mine.
Having had experience in the fiery mines in South Wales, I have been enabled to make such arrangements (in conjunction with the Mine Manager) as will speedily remedy the evil.
The means adopted are, providing a system of air courses which, directed by proper stoppings, convert a short shaft into a downcast shaft, and the new longer shaft into an upcast shaft.
A full current of air will thus be directed through the fiery portion of the workings, thus rendering the gas dilute, hence not dangerous.
To enable miners to approach the fiery workings without danger, a Davy Lamp has been made by McCaul, the brazier, which is now in use in the mine.
The nature of the gas is light carburetted hydrogen.
So soon as the necessary alterations are made to insure a full supply of fresh air to the faces, work will be resumed, in order to discover the sources of the gas; this, in the present state of things, can only be matter of conjecture; it is believed, from what had been observed in other drives to the seaward, that deposits of carbonaceous matter exist at or near the foreshore.
This carbonaceous matter, it is well known, gives off fire damp freely.
I am of course carefully watching the proceedings at the workings, and will further report when the matter may be further developed.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) H. Gorrie,
Mining Inspector.
His Honor the Superintendent.
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Auckland Provincial Gazette 1874, No 17
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🌾 Report on Fire Damp in the Crown Prince Mine
🌾 Primary Industries & Resources29 June 1874
Mining, Safety, Fire Damp, Crown Prince Mine, Hauraki Gold Mining District
- H. Gorrie (Mining Inspector), Reported on fire damp in Crown Prince Mine
- J. Williamson, Superintendent
- H. Gorrie, Mining Inspector