1879.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1235

if no such place shall have been assigned at which to
remain, colliers shall always understand that the pit-
head or mine-mouth, whichever it may in their case
be, is the proper place at which they are required to
wait the requisite intimation.

3. On beginning work at every shift—which col-
   liers and others shall be bound to do as soon as
   they shall have entered and satisfied themselves con-
   cernin the safety of their working-places (which
   it shall be their duty to do independently of the fire-
   man's report)—they shall thereupon work at their
   appointed coal-faces continuously, industriously, and
   without unnecessary intermission while the shift
   continues, and shall obey the orders applicable to the
   safe and proper prosecution of the colliery works
   given them by the mine manager, oversman, or other
   person for the time placed over them.

4. If, while at work, or at any other time, colliers
   shall discover or be informed of the existence of any
   obstruction in the ventilation, or stagnation, or im-
   purity of the air of the colliery, or of the existence of
   any defects in the walls, roofs, or in any other parts
   thereof, they shall be bound to give instant informa-
   tion of the circumstance to the mine manager, overs-
   man, or principal roadsman, or other person in charge
   of the colliery for the time, so that these defects may
   be remedied and danger therefrom averted. Colliers
   are expressly forbidden to go into or improperly near
   any place throughout the whole colliery where danger
   is known or supposed to exist, except for repairs or
   other necessary work directed by the manager.
   They are forbidden to continue working in any part
   of the coal face where a sudden outburst of fire-
   damp shall happen, or where danger from any cause
   shall apparently threaten, until the same shall have
   been examined and reported safe, or the impurity
   obviated. The common but highly dangerous practice
   among colliers of testing fire-damp escaping from a
   blower by igniting it with their lamps is here peremp-
   torily prohibited.

5. Timber will be found by the Company for the
   requirements of the colliery, and will be delivered
   in suitable quantities near the working faces. Col-
   liers shall be bound to secure the roof, and also the
   working coal faces, subject to the approval of the
   oversman.

Where the roof appears excessively dangerous the
oversman or his deputy shall aid in securing the same.

6. If, from accident or other cause, colliers are at
   any time unable to find a sufficient supply of props,
   &c., when it is unsafe to continue their work without
   it, they are forbidden to remain at their working
   faces.

DRAWERS, PUTTERS, AND DRIVERS.

7. Drawers, putters, and drivers shall not be per-
   mitted to approach or to enter the working-places
   until the colliers shall have proceeded to work.
   Drawers shall carefully convey their loaded hutches
   to the pit-bottom or mine-mouth, and shall deliver the
   same at the place of delivery pointed out to them for
   the reception thereof, and shall place them securely
   under the supervision of those appointed to take
   charge.

OFFICERS' DUTIES.
OVERSMEN.

8. The oversman to give all necessary instructions
   to the men and boys in the pit or mine respecting
   their work, and to see daily that due respect is
   paid to the rules and regulations in force upon
   the colliery. To visit every working-place at least
   once a day, commencing at the starting of the pit or
   mine. To examine daily all the various air-currents
   of the colliery, also all stoppings and air-brattices
   connected with the same; and, should any deficiency
   in the main or any of the separate air-currents at any
   time be observed, notice of such deficiency to be im-
   mediately given to the resident viewer and mine
   manager; the occurrence of any sudden discharge,
   accumulation, or indication of inflammable gas in any
   part of the workings, also to be immediately reported
   to him; such workings to cease working until the
   said gas is removed. The oversman, in the mean-
   time, to the best of his judgment, to adopt such
   measures as will effect the same.

9. To carefully examine, each day, with the
   safety-lamp, the edge of all goaves in the broken
   workings, and to see that due attention is paid to the
   lamps by the men whilst at work, giving them at all
   times suitable directions respecting them, according
   to the situation in which they are placed.

10. To see that a sufficient quantity of timber of
    all requisite sizes is daily supplied to the workings,
    such being the earnest wish of the Company, so that
    every possible protection may be afforded to the
    lives of their workmen; it being at the same time
    particularly desired that proper care of all material
    should be taken, and none whatever, on any occasion,
    wilfully wasted.

11. To see that all tramways and rolley-ways are
    kept in a safe and workable state throughout the
    colliery.

12. The Davy safety lamp to be used whilst exam-
    ining all workings, also any old or suspended work-
    ings.

13. The roadsman, at the close of the colliers' shift,
    shall daily make careful inspection of the whole draw-
    ing roads, headings, and air-courses from the mine-
    mouth and throughout the colliery; shall keep the
    same free of all obstructions, and of the fixed height
    and width necessary for proper passage and ventila-
    tion; he shall repair and remedy all damages and
    defects in the roads; and shall examine, put, and keep
    in proper condition all trap-doors, and shall see and
    enforce that the same be kept close; and, wherever
    practicable, shall make and keep all trap-doors self-
    acting; and do such serviceable work suitable for the
    interests and advancement of the colliery, reporting
    daily to the mine manager at the termination of each
    shift.

14. The roadsman shall inspect and report daily to
    the mine manager any instance of neglect on the part
    of the colliers in not carrying on their coal faces or
    walls in accordance with the plan pursued in working
    the colliery, or in not propping up and securing the
    roof of the superincumbent strata in those parts of
    the workings under their care. The roadsman or
    oversman and his delegate shall also examine and
    report to the mine manager or viewer instances of
    neglect and acts of carelessness on the part of the
    brushers and colliers in failing to remove, or in not
    removing with proper caution, the strata necessary to
    be removed from roads, or in not carrying forward
    the brushing with sufficient regularity and of superior
    dimensions, or of leaving the brushing with loose or
    hanging stones in and about the strata brushed.

15. As removing falls from the roofs of drawing
    roadways and air-courses, repairing defects, and sup-
    porting loose strata are within the oversman's, roads-
    man's, or their deputies' duties, and as they are
    charged with the maintenance of all drawing
    roads and passages in the colliery, they are to
    proceed with the greatest caution, both for their
    own safety and the successful execution of their
    duties; they must, therefore, be careful, and are
    required to prevent all other workmen coming
    near any defective places, or interfering with them,
    when at work; they are required to undertake no
    repairs of unusual magnitude or danger without suf-
    ficient assistance, and until provided with every
    necessary material, which will be supplied to them by
    the Company, on application to the mine manager or