Aug. 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1257

(a.) Any deficiency in the amount of ventilation;
(b.) Any violation by workmen of the rule as to 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.

Roadsmen.

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 ventilation.

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-doors 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 the part of the miners in not carrying on their coal faces or walls in accordance with the plan pursued in working the mine, or in not propping up and securing the roof of the superincumbent strata in those parts of the workings under their care.

17. As removing falls from the roofs of drawing roadways and air-courses, repairing defects, and supporting loose strata are within the roadsmen's duties, and as they are charged with the maintenance of all drawing-roads and passages in the mine, they are enjoined to proceed with the greatest caution, both for their own safety and the successful execution of their duties. In their operations they must exercise the greatest care, 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 sufficient assistance, and until provided with every necessary material, which will be supplied to them by the company on application to the mine manager; the progress of their work must be reported at the termination of every shift to the mine manager.

Miners and Workmen.

18. Every workman now or hereafter employed in any of the company's works or workings, whether on surface or underground, shall be subject to these rules, a copy of which he will be required to sign on entering the company's employ; and shall obey the commands or instructions of the manager, or of the overman, if any, in charge of the mine or part of the mine in which he is working.

19. Miners and other workmen are expressly forbidden to proceed towards or into their working-places at the commencement of any shift until it shall have been intimated to them by the foreman that the travelling roads and working-places have been examined and are apparently safe to enter.

20. Till such intimation of apparent safety shall have been made, miners and workmen shall either remain at the pit-head or mouth of the mine, or at some other place assigned to them for the purpose. If no such place shall have been assigned at which to remain, they 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.

21. On beginning work at every shift miners and others shall be bound to satisfy themselves concerning the safety of their working-places, independently of such intimation as aforesaid, and they shall thereupon work at their appointed coal faces or other work 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, overman, or other person for the time being placed over them.

22. If while at work, or at any other time, miners shall discover or be informed of the existence of any obstruction in the ventilation, or stagnation, or impurity of the air of the mine, or of the existence of any defects in the walls, roofs, or any other part of the mine, they shall be bound to give instant information to the mine manager, overman, or the person in charge of the mine for the time being, so that these defects may be remedied and danger therefrom averted.

23. Miners are expressly forbidden to go into or improperly near any place throughout the whole mine where danger is known or supposed to exist, except for the purpose of effecting repairs or other necessary work directed by the manager or his overman. 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 by the manager or overman in charge and reported safe or the impurity obviated.

24. The common but highly dangerous practice among miners, of testing-fire damp escaping from a blower by igniting it with their lamps, is peremptorily forbidden.

25. The company will supply all timber required for the proper working of their mines, and deliver it in suitable quantities near the working-faces. Miners shall be bound to secure the roof and also the working coal-faces, subject to the approval of the manager or overman, who, where the roof appears excessively dangerous, shall aid in securing the same.

26. If from any accident or other cause miners are at any time unable to find a sufficient supply of props when it is unsafe to continue their work without them, they are forbidden to remain at their working-faces; and no workman shall commence or continue to work in any place where he may consider the timber insufficient to support the roof of the mine, or discover any other cause that may render the place unsafe, until such defects have been put right by the person in charge.

Drawers, Putters, and Drivers.

27. Drawers, putters, and drivers shall not be permitted to approach or to enter the working-places until the miners 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.

Miscellaneous Regulations.

28. As a matter of common safety, miners, drawers, and all other workmen in the mine who shall observe or come to know of any defect in any road, roof, or air-course, or in any stopping or permanent or temporary brattice, or other appliances or work devised for making, maintaining, and promoting effective ventilation of the mine, are enjoined to give notice thereof to the manager or overman or other person in charge, so that the same may be forthwith repaired or rectified.

29. In like manner every miner, drawer, and other workman engaged in the mine who shall observe or come to know of any defect or flaw in the working machinery and gearing used in and about the mine, whereby the efficiency thereof may be impaired, shall be bound to communicate the same as above.

30. No workman shall, on any pretence whatever, be allowed to introduce into the mine any stranger without the sanction of the mine manager.

31. Miners, drawers, and all others in the mine who shall have occasion to pass through any trap-door shall thereupon closely shut the same, and shall on no account leave it open. All doors shall be hung so that they will close automatically, and no door shall be fastened back while on its hinges. On discontinuing work at the end of a shift, and especially when no work is to be done in the mine on the following day, care must be taken by every workman closely to shut all trap-doors, and thereby allow of the proper current of air necessary for ventilation being constantly circulated.

32. All workmen are especially forbidden to throw into, deposit, or leave coal, wood, stone, rubbish, or materials of any kind in any air-course or road so as to interfere with or hinder the air passing into and through the mine.

33. All workmen are prohibited from entering or remaining in any place throughout the whole mine where not absolutely required by duty at the time.

34. Miners and all others are prohibited from defacing or removing marks which may be made in any part of the workings in connection with the survey of the mine, or for the guidance of the workmen in their operations. All workers are forbidden to displace, injure, or damage in any way the coal-stoops, props, hutches, rails, or any part of the machinery, gearing, or apparatus.

35. Blasting is strictly prohibited, unless with the express permission of the manager.

36. Meetings of miners and other workmen in a body within the workings, or in any of the roads or air-courses of the mine, are strictly prohibited.

37. No person shall be permitted to enter or to continue in or about the mine or works while in a state of intoxication. No intoxicating liquor, on any pretence whatever, except in cases of necessity and with the consent of the manager, shall be taken into the mine.

38. No person shall ride upon any tub or tram without the permission of the manager. No person shall go before any tram or tub on any incline, brow, or slope unless duly authorized. Every person working on any incline, brow, or slope shall secure his tub from getting loose; and before he attempts to take a tub down shall ascertain that he has proper scotches or other means for stopping it on the way when required. He shall not take more than one tub down at a time unless he has the means of holding them, and when on the way he shall keep behind. Where machinery is used he shall not, without hooking or otherwise securing it, place a tub on the plates or rails so that it could run