3184
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 76

(1.) (a.) An adequate amount of ventilation shall be constantly produced in every mine to dilute and render harmless noxious gases to such an extent that all shafts, winzes, crosscuts, levels, stopes, stables, and all working-places shall be in a fit state for working and passing therein.
(b.) A place shall not be deemed to be in a fit state for working or passing therein if the air contains more than 1¼ per cent. of carbon-dioxide or less than 19 per cent. of oxygen.
(c.) For the purposes of ventilation the mines of New Zealand shall be divided into two classes. Class I shall embrace all mines in the Hauraki Mining District, and Class II all other mines.

The maximum temperature of the air in any working-place in any mine in Class I, measured by a wet-bulb thermometer, shall not exceed 83 degrees Fahrenheit unless firing of explosives has occurred in such place within twenty minutes of the observation of the thermometer. In cases where the Inspector is of opinion that it is impracticable to maintain the temperature at or below 83 degrees Fahrenheit he may allow such higher temperatures as he thinks reasonable, but he shall in such cases also fix the number of hours (not exceeding six) which any person shall be employed in any such working-place.

In all mines of Class II the standard of temperature shall be 80 degrees instead of 83 degrees; but in every other respect the above provisions shall apply to both classes.
(d.) The quantity of air in the main current and in every split, and at such points as may be determined by the Inspector, shall at least once in every month be measured and entered in a book kept for such purpose by the manager, together with the number of persons and horses ordinarily employed in each split or ventilation district at one time.
(e.) The extent of ventilation to be prescribed under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 428 of the Mining Act, shall be at the rate of not less than 150 cubic feet of air per minute for every man employed in such mine, and 600 cubic feet per minute for each horse, and distributed so that at least 150 cubic feet of air per minute be supplied at every working-face for each man employed.
(f.) Mechanical ventilating-appliances shall be installed whensoever and wheresoever deemed necessary by the Inspector. In the event of the Inspector ordering ventilating-appliances there shall be a right of appeal to the Inspecting Engineer.

In all cases where the ventilation of a mine is provided by mechanical means, the ventilating-appliances shall be started at such time before the commencement of work as in the opinion of the Inspector of Mines is necessary for the purpose of thoroughly ventilating the mine.
(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 reason 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.

Present
No. of
Level.
No. of
Level
in No. 1
Ward.
Bell.
Bell.

No. 1 Ward
{ No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5

No. 2 Ward
{ No. 6
No. 7
No. 8
No. 9
No. 10

1
2
3
4
5

1
2
3
4
5

1 pause 1
1 „ 2
1 „ 3
1 „ 4
1 „ 5

2 „ 1
2 „ 2
2 „ 3
2 „ 4
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. If, however, the number of holes to be fired does not exceed six, they may be spitted. As soon after firing as possible all places where holes have been charged shall be hosed with water and a thorough search made for any unexploded portion of a charge.

(10.) Every workman, howsoever employed in or about the mine, whether on the surface or underground, shall be subject to the rules and regulations under the Mining Act, and shall obey the commands or instructions of the manager or any person in charge of the mine or part of the mine in which he is working.

(11.) No person shall use threatening or abusive language towards the manager or other official of a mine, nor shall the manager or other official of a mine use threatening or abusive language towards any person employed in or about a mine.

(12.) The ends of every cage shall be provided with a suitable gate, or other approved barrier, which shall always be used when persons are riding, and there shall also be a rigid bar or handrail at the top of the inside of every cage for persons to hold on to during the ascent or descent of the cage; and no cage or barrier shall be used until it has been examined by