Aug. 5.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2709

(g.) The manager of every mine shall
keep in the office of the said mine a separate plan showing the system of ventilation in the mine, and in particular the general direction of the air-current, the points where the quantity of air is measured, and the principal devices for the regulation and the distribution of the air.

On every ventilation-plan the intake airways shall be coloured blue, and the return airways red.

(h.) Every ventilation-plan shall be made to a scale of not less than 1 in. to 2 chains. The manager shall, whenever requested by any Inspector, accurately mark on such plan the progress of the workings of the mine with the method of ventilation clearly shown up to the time of such request.

(i.) Whensoever the Inspector deems it necessary for the improvement of ventilation he may order—

(i.) That rises over 30 ft. in height be put on the three-compartment box system.

(ii.) That two separate air-passes of adequate dimensions shall be carried up in all stopes exceeding 50 ft. in length, and shall be maintained solely for ventilation and ladder-ways.

(2.) In any case where the Inspector is of opinion that, by reasons of the use of timber or other inflammable material in a mine, there is a risk of fire, he may require the holder of the mine to provide such number and description of self-contained breathing-apparatus outfits as the Inspector thinks necessary, having regard to the nature and extent of the workings and of the risk. Once at least in every month the manager of the mine shall cause a sufficient number of underground officials of the mine or a brigade of the workmen to practise and be instructed in the use of the breathing-apparatus.

(3.) If inflammable gas has been found in the mine within the preceding twelve months, a station or stations shall be appointed at the entrance to the mine or to different parts of the mine, as the case may require, and no workman shall pass beyond any such station until the mine, or, as the case may be, the part beyond such station, has been cleared from gas, and been inspected and ascertained to be safe.

(4.) Such inspection shall be made within two hours before the time fixed for the commencement of work.

(5.) In raising or lowering persons the rate of speed shall not exceed 200 ft. per minute when the cage or other conveyance is within 100 ft. of the surface, bottom, or stopping-place, nor 500 ft. per minute when it is in any other part of the shaft.

(6.) No stope shall be worked at a greater height than 8 ft. 6 in., measured from the ordinary level of the working-floor of that stope, except with the approval of the Inspector in writing.

(7.) (i.) A place or places for meals shall be set aside in each level. Such places shall be kept clean.

(ii.) At every such place an impervious metal receptacle shall be provided, in which all waste food, paper, and other rubbish shall be placed. Any person wilfully neglecting to use the receptacle or throwing waste food about the mine shall be guilty of an offence.

(iii.) The contents of the receptacle shall be sent to the surface, and the receptacle shall be thoroughly cleansed, at regular intervals.

(8.) A uniform code of signals shall be adopted at all mines, such code being as follows:—

1 bell—Stop or hold cage.
2 bells—Lower cage.
3 bells—Haul up cage.
4 bells—Haul up, men on cage.
5 bells—Change gear to hoist from different level.
12 bells—Accident.

In addition to the ordinary signals for winding, the ‘‘ward’’ system must be used when ringing the cage from a level to another level.

No. of
Present No. Level of Level. in No. 1 Ward. Bell. Bell.
No. 1 Ward {No. 1 1 1 pause 1
No. 2 2 1 ,, 2
No. 3 3 1 ,, 3
No. 4 4 1 ,, 4
No. 5 5 1 ,, 5
No. 6 1 2 ,, 1
No. 7 2 2 ,, 2
No. 2 Ward {No. 8 3 2 ,, 3
No. 9 4 2 ,, 4
No. 10 5 2 ,, 5

When ringing the cage from a level to another level, the number of the ward must be rung first, and then the number of the level in that ward. It must always be understood that there are men on the cage in the inter-level signals.

(9.) In any mine where the number of holes to be fired in one blast exceeds six, electric firing-apparatus shall be used.