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constructed contrivances will, in a short space of time, become seriously impaired unless a coustant and 
thorough system of maintenance is kept up; and consequently I would beg to suggest that mining managers 
be compelled to test, their cages at least once a week, and to make a record of the results, with a view of 
rectifying any defects that may be present in the appliances. 1 would also suggest that the following par¬ 
ticulars he legibly stamped on each cage, viz.:—Name of maker, date of construction of cage, weight of 
cage, number of cage. 
Mr. Inspector Bate (Stawcll) states : — 
Since the date of your instructions, I have, at various times so as to suit the convenience of the 
mining managers, made tests of the working of all the safety cages now in use within my district, and have 
the honour to report thereon as follows : — 
Safety cages are at present in use at the following mines, viz.:—Magdala Co., Pleasant Creek Cross 
Reef Co., Oriental Co., Extended Cross Reef Co., and Scotchman’s United Co. 
It must he understood that, in each of t he trials or tests made by me, the cages were, in the cases of 
the Magdala and Extended Cross Reef companies, immediately below the surface sill of the shaft ; and in 
all the other cases they were a few feet, above the surface, these being the only positions possible in an 
ordinary test, and in the absence of the favorable conditions under which the tests were made in 1878 by 
the hoard of inquiry on safety cages. 
Magdala Co . —At the Magdala Co.’s shaft there are strong, automatic safety catches of iron plate 
at the main brace, and similar ones at the upper, or safety brace. These would prevent the fall of the cage 
down the shaft in the event of over-winding, White's safety detaching hook being used. The safety 
appliance on the cages itself is Pryor’s (described at* page 5 of “Report of the Board of Inquiry on Safety 
Mining Cages, 1878-9”). 
The trial of this appliance resulted in a complete failure, the sharp blade-points, which should have 
become imbedded in the slabbing, having failed to even (ouch the wood, and not a scratch was discernible 
on the side of the shaft in the vertical line of descent of the blades. 
At the Pleasant Creek Cross Reef Company’s No. 1 shaft the cages are fitted with White’s detach¬ 
ing hook, and there are automatic safety cages at the main and false braces which would effectually prevent 
the fall of a cage down the shaft in the event of it being inadvertently carried to the poppet-heads. The 
safety appliance is an adaptation of Wnyman and Kay's, the alteration consisting in the gripping wheel, or 
roller, being indented or made to assume a ratchet form. This alteration was made at my suggestion, in 
consequence of the rollers having failed to grip the skids when the latter were greased, at my request, at a 
test made by me on 6th November, 18S4. On the occasion of the present test the cage only dropped about 
8 inches, whether the skids were or were not greased. I considered the trial satisfactory. 
As no men go up or down No. 2 shaft, 1 did not consider it necessary to test the safety appliances 
there. 
At the Oriental Company’s shaft the safety and detaching appliances are, in all respects, similar to 
those used by the Pleasant Greek Cross Reef Company. The test was. satisfactory, the cages falling only 
from 5 to G inches on the rope being cut. At the Extended Cross Reef Company’s shaft, Middleton’s 
patent safety hook is used, and there are “ tumblers ” oil the skids between the main brace and poppet- 
head, besides automatic iron-plate safety catches at the brace itself. 1 discovered a defect in the tumblers, 
and pointed it out to Mr. Naylor, the legal manager, who promised to have it remedied. The defect 
consisted in the inside tumblers not being long enough (and consequently not having weight enough) to 
fall, after the upward passage of the cage. By this sketch it will he seen that the outside skids are much 
wider than the inside ones. The inner tumblers cannot, therefore, be so long if the bolt he (as is the case 
here) in the skid of the compartment of the shaft to which it belongs. My suggestion was to place the bolt 
in each ease, in the adjoining skid, thus:— 
/ 
/ 
MrV^ 
The safety cage is Naylor’s improved, which, in its main principle, is similar to Pryor’s, inasmuch ns the 
mode of arresting the accidental descent of the cage is by sharp blade-points being thrust into the slabbing 
In testing these cages, one of them fell 18 inches, the other 10 inches, after the rope by which they were 
suspended was cut. 
At the Scotchman’s United Company’s shaft the detaching hook is Middleton’s patent. There are 
automatic iron-plate safety catches at the brace, and tumblers above—all in good working order. The 
safety cage is similar in all respects to those now in use at the Pleasant Creek Cross Reef and Oriental 
companies’ mines, and, avIigii tested, the cage only fell about G inches on the rope being cut, whether the 
skids were greased or dry. I would point out that the failure of the safety appliance attached to the ca^e 
of the Magdala Company was, in my opinion, due to the fact that, immediately below the surface, where the 
