Jan. 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 69

Manager.

52. The manager must see that the signals for moving the cages are painted upon a board and placed in a conspicuous position.

Underground Workmen and Boys.

53. During the time of the mine-drawing every person in descending the shaft shall be under the directions of the banksman, and in ascending the shaft shall be under the direction of the onsetter, and no other person than the banksman and onsetter shall give any signal during such time. No person shall get on or off the cage after the signal to go on has been given, nor until it has settled on the props or reached the bottom. No person shall take with him down or up the shaft tools, rails, props, sprags, or other bulky materials, except for repairing the shafts. No person shall get on the cage after the numbers stated on the board at the pit top and bottom are on. Every workman and boy shall leave the cage immediately when ordered to do so by the banksman or onsetter.

Banksman and Onsetter.

54. The head banksman, subject to the manager’s or underviewer’s directions, shall have full control over the pit-top and over all persons employed under him. The onsetter, subject to the manager’s or underviewer’s directions, shall have full control over the pit-bottom and all persons employed there. No person under the age of eighteen years shall have charge of the pit top or bottom.

55. The head banksman or other appointed person shall be at the mine at the appointed time in the morning, and shall provide a sufficient number of lights on the bank; and before the engine is started, and from time to time during the day, he shall see that the pulleys, ropes, cages, chains, and landing doors or frames are in safe working condition; and he shall not allow any person to descend the shaft until he has put the loaded tubs into the cage, and the ropes and loaded cages have been run up and down the shaft, and the ropes, chains, cappings, and cages carefully examined by him. If any weakness or defect is found in anything belonging to the pit-top, or in the engine or machinery, he must not permit any person to descend or ascend until it is made secure. The banksman shall also attend to the proper signals. The head banksman shall not allow any boy under thirteen to work on the bank excepting under the exemptions provided by the Act, and in that case only with an order from the manager.

56. The banksman in charge of the pit-top shall not let a stranger go down the shaft without the authority of the manager. The banksman, when he is informed of danger in the shaft, shall not allow any person to go down unless for the purpose of repairing the shaft. He shall not allow any intoxicated person to descend. He shall himself give the signals, and let no other than appointed persons land the corves or put them into the cages. He shall listen at the pit-top when any person is in the shaft, and instantly signal the engineman to stop the engine in case of alarm. He shall remain at the pit-top until all the men and boys are drawn out.

57. The banksman or onsetter shall not let a boy under sixteen years of age go down or up the shaft unless accompanied by a man, and shall not permit more than the number of persons stated on the board at the pit top and bottom to descend or ascend at one time. The banksman and onsetter shall not allow a person to go down or up against a loaded cage in the same shaft unless it is bratticed, and shall not allow any person to take with him rails, props, sprags, tools, tubs, or other bulky materials, or to get on or off the cage until it has settled upon the props or reached the pit-bottom. The banksman shall send all tools down the shaft in a tub or tram, and props, rails, brattice-boards, and other bulky materials shall be tied securely to the cage or rope by the banksman or onsetter when being sent down or up the shaft. If a rope is working in the shaft for underground planes, no person shall ride in the cage whilst this is running unless the rope be cased.

58. The head banksman shall see that the fencing is placed securely round the top of every shaft when it is not at work.

59. The onsetter shall be in the mine at the appointed time in the morning. He shall be at his station to give signals and perform his other duties under these rules, and he shall remain there to see the men and boys all safely into the cage and up the shaft at the close of the day.

60. The onsetter shall report to the underviewer any person that gives a signal or disobeys his directions. He shall remain at the bell-handle and give cautionary signals, if necessary, when any person ascends or descends the shaft. He shall only allow appointed persons to put tubs into or take them out of the cages; and he shall see that the coals or materials do not project over the cage.

61. The onsetter shall see that the water-sump is never uncovered when any person is ascending or descending the shaft.

62. The banksman shall keep the cages and pit-top clear.

63. The banksman and onsetter shall alone give the signals for moving the cages, which are as follows:—

Signals.

When the cage is to be raised from the pit-bottom the bell is to be struck .. Once.
When men are about to ascend .. .. Three times.
Which the banksman shall answer before men get on to the cage .. .. Once.
When men are about to descend the banksman shall signal .. .. .. Three times.
Which the onsetter shall answer by signaling .. .. .. Once.
When men are ready, the signal to go on .. Once.
To stop the cage .. .. .. Once.
To lower down the cage .. .. Twice.
To raise up after being stopped .. .. Four times.

64. The banksman and onsetter shall not allow any person to ride on the cage without the cover, unless by special permission.

The following special rules shall be in force at any mine where any incline or engine-plane is in use:—

Brakesman on Incline and Engine-planes.

65. The brakesman shall, during work, see that the machinery, ropes, signals, &c., are in proper working order, and, if he perceive anything wrong, at once report the same to the underviewer or his deputy. He must be cautious in conducting the wagons, and see that they are securely coupled. He shall pay attention to giving and receiving the necessary signals.

66. The underviewer or his deputy shall see that proper stops and blocks are fixed at the top of each incline.

The following special rules shall be in force in any mine where steam-engines are used:—

Enginewright.

67. The enginewright or some competent person shall daily inspect the engines, boilers, steam-gauges, water-gauges, feed-pumps, safety-valves, indicators, brakes, drums, ropes, chains, cages, and all other machinery used for the purpose of raising men or materials from the mine, and shall cause the same to be in a state of efficient repair.

68. The enginewright or some competent person appointed must daily examine the state of the shaft by which persons ascend or descend, and the guides and conductors therein.

69. The enginewright shall see that the walling and timbering of the pumping shaft and the pumping apparatus are frequently examined. The fixed and suspended stages, cradles, land-loops, ropes, chains, gin, and capstan shall be examined before being used.

70. The enginewright shall see that competent persons of not less than eighteen years of age are employed for working the machinery used in lowering and raising persons employed in the mine.

71. The enginewright shall see that the bells and signals required by the Act are fixed and maintained in working order, and that the engineman understands the code of signals.

72. The enginewright shall see that every cage used for the purpose of raising and lowering persons in the shaft shall have a proper covering overhead.

73. The enginewright shall see that all ropes are carefully attached to the drum, and when the cage is at the pit-bottom there must not be less than two rounds of rope on the drum.

74. When a winding-shaft rope requires “capping” or “splicing,” it shall be done under the direction of the enginewright or a competent person appointed by the manager.

75. The enginewright shall report any breakage or derangement of machinery to the manager or engineer.

76. The enginewright or some competent person shall see that each boiler is laid off and cleaned when required; he shall make a careful examination of the same and all its connections, and not allow it to work unless in good working order.

77. The enginewright or some competent person shall see that all the signals are fixed that are required by the Act.

78. The enginewright shall see that every fly-wheel, and all exposed and dangerous parts of the machinery, shall be securely fenced.

Enginemen and Stokers.

79. Each engineman shall, every morning before commencing work, examine his engine and all the machinery connected therewith, and immediately report any defect to the manager or enginewright.

80. The engineman must run the ropes and loaded cages slowly up and down the pit before any person ascends or descends.

81. No one shall interfere with the engine except the engineman. He shall at all times gently lift the cage from the pit-bottom, and carefully drive the engine, and not leave the handle whilst persons are in the shaft, and shall not allow any person to remain in the enginehouse. He shall pay particular attention to the indicators and signals, and shall stop the engine if any defect is perceived.