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THE VERDICT.

The jury, who included among their number several practical miners, returned the following verdict:–

The coroner subsequently wrote me, under date 2nd November, 1906, a letter in which he says that the jury, after signing the inquisition, remarked that "they intended to add that there was no blame attached to the managers of the pit," but he told them, the inquisition now having been signed, it was now too late to add anything.

It will be noted that the jury did not find, by their verdict, that the shot was fired by Maddison, and, what I regard as more important, refused to say whether the explosion was or was not a coal-dust explosion.

When it is remembered this jury contained a large element of men with practical experience of mining, this omission in the verdict is very significant, of the attitude still held by miners, with regard to coal-dust explosions.

CONCLUSION.

I do not recommend any prosecution against any person connected with the mine.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

I am strongly of opinion that steps should be taken to bring the dangers of coal -dust explosions more vividly before the minds not only of the officials of the mines, but of the miners also.

The result of this Inquiry has been to convince me that great ignorance on this subject exists.

As I have stated before, the Wingate Mine was not a particularly dusty one.

Many mines in which the deposited dust on the main haulage roads is as great if not greater than was the case at Wingate, probably exist in the county of Durham.

What an ever present source of danger this dust is, is shown by an extract from the book entitled "Explosions in Coal Mines," by W. N. and J. B. Atkinson. They state at page 20, on the authority of Mr. Galloway, that one pound of coal dust to 160 cubic feet of air are the proportions necessary to form an inflammable mixture, and, therefore, assuming 40 square feet area in haulage road, one pound of dust is required for each length of four feet, or a quarter of a pound of dust for each foot..

They add, "on dry and dusty haulage roads the quantity of dust in excess of this often exists as upper dust only."

I think, if a circular was sent from the Home Office to the managers of all coal mines, pointing out what the Home Office has ascertained from its Inspectors and from reports, as to the danger of coal dust, and requesting the managers to bring this in turn to the notice of all the miners engaged in the mine, it would be attended with considerable advantage.

I also think it would be advantageous if the Home Office required that every licensed shot-firer should have the General and Special Rules as to shotfiring printed upon his form of authorisation.

I would also recommend that the attention of the mine owners should be called to the risk of dust being carried into the haulage ways by means of the down-cast shaft when, as was the case at Wingate, the coal is screened quite near the top of the down-cast shaft.

My strongest recommendation, however, is that all main haulage roads should, as far as practicable, be kept clear of dry coal dust. I think this should be made compulsory.

The evidence of Mr. Carnes, before referred to, shows that this is not a difficult or expensive matter. Either the dust should be kept constantly wet by watering roads, roofs, and sides, either in their entirety, or by the method of providing wet zones, or where this is inadvisable the roofs and sides should be brushed at short intervals, and the roadways periodically cleaned ; or both of these precautions may, where thought advisable, be insisted upon.

I am aware that the Royal Commission on Mines has taken much evidence as to dry coal dust in mines, and the best methods of avoiding the danger arising from its collection in considerable quantities in main haulage roads. I know that many of the witnesses called have spoken of and pointed out the dangers involved in the general watering of roof, sides and floor of main roads, and have recommended zone watering. It may be that an effective system of watering in zones, and the removal, as far as practicable, of dry dust by means of periodical brushing, may in the end be found to be the best means of securing safety.

It may probably be truly said, that it is very rarely that a shot is fired without authority in a main haulage way, as was done in this case, and that consequently the risk of explosion of dry coal dust in a main haulage way is very remote.

Though it is probably true, that with adequate precautions as to shot-firing very few explosions would commence in the main haulage ways, all the expert witnesses agreed that an explosion wherever and from whatsoever cause originating, would spread more rapidly and be rendered far more serious if the haulage ways are dry and dusty.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

ALFRED HENRY RUEGG.

To the Right Honourable

The Secretary of State,

Home Department,

Whitehall, S.W.