650 Transactivns. — MiscdhiHcoiis. 



sions of the chamber were 6 feet 6 inches cube, containing about 

 275 cubic feet of space. It was carefully match-lined with well- 

 seasoned timber. The powder used consisted half of English 

 make, and half Colonial, made at Dunedin. The filling m of 

 the chamber was an anxious piece of work : the barrels and 

 boxes in which the powder was contained were opened at the 

 mouth of the mine, and the contents were emptied into 

 specially-constructed wooden buckets, bound with brass. The 

 men were not allowed to have matches in their possession, and 

 had to go in the mine without boots ; and every other precaution 

 was taken, so that there was not the least chance that a spark 

 could be generated anywhere in the mine. The only lights 

 allowed were one in each elbow, consisting of bull's-eye lanterns 

 in recesses let into the rock. When the chamber had been 

 half-filled, the igniting charge, consisting of a pound canister of 

 fine gunpowder, was placed in the centre of the chamber ; and 

 from it were led two lighting-trains — one of gunpowder, in a 

 train for & flash, the other of Eickford's slow-fuse ; both of these 

 were encased in timber. To sit on four or five tons of loose 

 powder, whije fixing the igniting-charge and the lighting-trains, 

 gives one a peculiar sensation, which is greatly enhanced by the 

 fiery purplish-red glint fi"om the facets of the powder, reflecting 

 the meagre light of the bull's-eye lantern 10 feet off, giving it 

 the appearance of being on the point of explosion. When the 

 chamber had been filled, the opening was timbered up, and a dry 

 stone wall was built against the timber, all interstices being 

 filled with fine material well rammed. This was continued to 

 the first elbow ; the corner being very carefully built, as well as 

 the next elbow. The space between the two elbows had an inter- 

 mediate stone wall, the rest of the space being filled in with 

 loose material, well rammed. The main drive was then filled in 

 to about half-way to the mouth with loose material, and a wall 

 of stone every 10 feet. The two trains of fuse and gunpowder 

 were carefully adjusted before the filling in began : and, on 

 reaching the end of the filling-iu, were extended 24 feet fmlher, 

 both with fuses. 



The mine was fired on 8th March. Both fuses were lighted, 

 and in 12 minutes the explosion occurred. This showed that 

 the Jla.sh, or powder-train, had fired the mine. The fuse of 24 

 feet would occupy about 12 minutes to reach the powder-train, 

 which would connect with the powder-chamber almost instan- 

 taneously. 



As observed from one side, it appeared as if the face and 

 brow of the hill rose slightly, accompanied by a slight report ; 

 opened out, apparently in strips ; stood still for a moment, as if 

 undecided whether to fall back or over — Ihen immediately it 

 went over with an immense crash and rumble, with occasional 

 other minor rumbles, caused by the fall of overhanging material, 



