1254
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[SEPT. 11

Special Rules under "The Regulation of Mines Act,
1874."

Mines Department,
Wellington, 8th September, 1879.

THE under-mentioned special rules are published
in accordance with the provisions of section 31.
of "The Regulation of Mines Act, 1874," to be
observed at the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Com-
pany's Mine, Kaitangata, Otago.

W. GISBORNE,
Minister of Mines.

The penalties for the violation of any special rules
established under "The Regulation of Mines Act,
1874," and for offences against the Act, are provided
for in sections 22 to 28, in Part VI.

SPECIAL RULES of the KAITANGATA RAILWAY AND
COAL COMPANY (LIMITED), for the conduct and
guidance of persons acting in the management of
the Mine, or employed in or about the same, to
prevent dangerous accidents, and to provide for
the safety and proper discipline of persons em-
ployed in or about the Mine.

MANAGER.

1. The mine, and all the operative details of the
   management thereof, shall be under the control and
   daily supervision of the manager, whose duty it shall
   be to carry out, and see carried out, the various
   provisions of any Act for the time being in force for
   the regulation of mines, so far as incumbent upon
   him or those acting under his control or direction,
   and to see that the mine is properly ventilated, and
   that sufficient materials and appliances are always
   provided for the proper carrying out of all necessary
   operations..

2. In addition to and without in any way restrict-
   ing his general duties, the manager shall examine all
   parts of the mine daily, and also all the air-courses
   of the mine, and all stoppings and brattices con-
   nected with the same, and cause remedies to be pro-
   vided immediately for all defects that may be found
   on such examination.

3. A safety lamp shall be used in making all such
   examinations as aforesaid.

4. He shall see that a sufficient quantity of timber
   for props and other purposes is daily supplied to the
   workmen, and cause the same to be cut in proper
   lengths and laid down in the working-places, it being
   the earnest desire of the Company that every proper
   protection shall be afforded to the lives of the
   workmen. He shall see that all the roads and
   tramways throughout the mine are kept in a safe
   and workable state.

5. He shall give all necessary instructions to the
   men or boys in the mine respecting their work, and
   shall see daily that these rules are duly observed.

6. He shall daily make a correct entry of the
   readings of the barometer and thermometer in the
   Mine Registry.

OVERMEN.

7. The manager may appoint one or more over-
   men to assist him in the performance of his general
   and the above special duties, subject, however, to his
   own general supervision and control.

FIREMEN.

8. The manager shall appoint one or more com-
   petent persons to act as firemen of the mine.

9. Before the time appointed for any shift com-
   mencing work in any part of the mine, the fireman
   appointed to inspect the mine for that shift shall
   inspect with a safety lamp the whole of the workings
   in which such shift is to be employed, and the road-
   ways leading thereto, and shall make a true report
   of the condition thereof so far as ventilation is con-
   cerned. Every such report shall be recorded without
   delay in the Mine Registry, and shall be signed by
   the person making the same.

10. In making the examinations provided for by the
    foregoing rules the fireman shall mark with chalk the
    day of the month upon the face of each working-place,
    as 1, 5, 10, 25, or other numbers, as the case may be.
    He shall be careful to ascertain that all parts of
    the mine and roadways so to be examined are free
    from fire-damp, choke-damp, or other impurities, and
    are safe for workmen to enter and work therein, and
    in case fire-damp or other impure air shall be dis-
    covered in any working-place, road, or level, the
    fireman shall, in the first instance, thoroughly clear
    the same of such impurity if that can be done
    easily, and shall thereupon report to the miners and
    other workmen that the same are safe; but if the
    impurity cannot be readily or at once cleared out,
    the miners and workmen shall not be permitted to
    enter such working-places, roads, or levels until the
    impure air shall have been by further appliances
    entirely dispelled. He shall prevent miners or other
    workmen entering the roads or working-places until
    a report shall have been made that they are safe. If
    no fire-damp, choke-damp, or other impurity shall be
    discovered, or suspected to remain after such inspec-
    tion, the firemen shall so report to the miners and
    workmen, and allow them to proceed to work, and
    shall thereupon, without delay, enter such report in
    the Mine Registry.

11. In case, from any cause, the operations of the
    mine shall have been discontinued for an unusual
    length of time, and thereafter resumed, no workman
    shall be allowed to enter the mine until the manager
    or fireman shall have first entered and reported on
    the state of the workings, and in discharging this
    duty the manager or fireman must proceed with great
    caution, and shall not go further into the workings
    than he, from his own experience, shall deem safe;
    and in case there are reasonable grounds for appre-
    hending the presence of impure air he shall return
    to the mine mouth and remain there until precau-
    tionary measures shall have been applied to restore
    the proper ventilation of the mine.

12. All entrances to any place not in actual course
    of working and extension shall be properly fenced
    across the whole width of such entrance, so as to
    prevent persons entering the same.

13. He shall report to the manager—
    (a.) Any deficiency in the amount of ventilation.
    (b.) Any violation by workmen of the rule, as
    entering the mine before inspection.
    (c.) Any use or attempted use of gunpowder or
    other blasting material without permission.
    (d.) Any damage done to fences, signals, or
    marks in the mine.

ROADS MEN.

14. The roadsmen, in their different divisions and
    shifts, shall daily make careful inspection of the
    whole drawing roads and headings, from the mine
    mouth, and throughout the mine, and shall keep the
    same free of all obstructions, and of the fixed height
    and width necessary for proper passage and ventila-
    tion.

15. They 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-
    door self-acting.

16. They shall report daily to the mine manager at
    the termination of each shift. They shall also report
    daily to the mine manager any instance of neglect on