Breaches of Coal Mines Inspection Act
January, 1857Several informations against persons for breaches of The Coal Mines Inspections Act were heard before the West Riding magistrates at Rotherham on Wednesday, at the instance of Mr. Morton, Government inspector of mines for the district. Messrs. Richard Shaw and John Wright Potter, owners of a colliery at Parkgate, were summoned to answer seven informations, under the 18th and 19th of Victoria, cap, 108, charging them, first, with not having established special rules for the working of the mine, as required by sections 9 and 11; secondly, with not having supplied copies of the general rules to the workmen, and neglecting to hang up a copy of the same on the premises; thirdly, with not having fenced off a pit out of use, or used only as an air pit; fourthly with not having fenced round a working pit when not at work; fifthly, with not having provided the working pit with proper means of signalling; sixthly, with not having provided a proper indicator to show the position of the lode in the pit or shaft, and also with not having provided an adequate break to every machine worked by steam or water for lowering or raising persons in the pit; and, seventhly, with not having provided every steam boiler with a proper steam gauge and safety valve.
Mr. Skipworth, of Wakefield, on behalf of the prosecution, stated that Mr. Potter had only recently become connected with the colliery, and was engaged in quite a different profession, so that he could hardly be expected to know the responsibilities of the pit; but Mr. Shaw had been connected with it much longer, and in September last had sat upon the jury appointed to investigate the circumstances attending a fatal explosion in the neighbouring pit of Mr. Stenson, and had concurred in casting blame upon him for neglecting the ordinary precautions required in coalmines.
The defendants, according to previous notice, pleaded guilty; but Mr. Potter, in mitigation of penalties, stated that the pit had come into their possession only in October last; that there had been every disposition to comply with the regulations of the act, and that they were now using every exertion to do so in a few days. The bench inflicted a penalty of 10s. for neglecting the special rules and a fine of 1s. for each of the other breaches of the of the regulations.
Mr. George Norburn, of Chesterfield, was summoned to answer an information which charged him with not having provided all his steam boilers with proper steam gauges and safety valves, according to the 7th general rule. The defendant pleaded guilty, but remarked that at the time the inspector was over, and also at the present time, there was a steam gauge at work, which he considered superior to that recommended by the Government. He had, however, ordered gauges of the latter description, and they would shortly be fixed. The bench inflicted a nominal penalty of 1s., but intimated to the defendant that he must strictly comply with the act.
Source:Sheffield Times
