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Applicants for “service” certificates have been readily dealt with, in cases where testimonials of a 
satisfactory nature were produced; but a great number of candidates presented themselves without having 
apparently even looked over the printed regulations to ascertain what form of testimony was required to 
enable them to obtain certificates. This neglect gave us, and particularly our secretary, a great amount of 
trouble, and was productive of much delay. 
In examining candidates for “ competency ” wo found many engine-drivers of over twenty years’ 
experience who were quite ignorant of tlio action of steam on an engine, further than that the moving of a 
lever in a certain direction would cause an engine to move one way, and that by an opposite motion of the 
lever the engine would move in another way. We found some candidates very intelligent, and they quickly 
satisfied us as to their eiliciency, while many occupied our attention for a, considerable time, taking in some 
cases from an hour to an hour and a half, before satisfactory answers could be elicited. 
Wo found great diversity of opinion existing among engine-drivers as to the proper standard for 
testing boilers, as provided for in general rule 35 of section 8 of The Regulation HMines and Mining 
Machinery Act 1883. Tho lowest test, recognised by Lloyd’s rules and by the Board of Trade (England) 
is, that a boiler should bo subjected to a hydraulic pressure of not less than one and a half times that at 
which the safety valve blows off; and we impressed upon every candidate for competency the necessity for 
adopting this rule for his future guidance in the testing of boilers. 
We also found that some engine-drivers are very negligent in performing the various duties devolving 
upon them in the management of machinery. One man admitted that, although try-cocks had for years been 
fixed in the front of a boiler of which he had charge, ho scarcely ever used them, because when he turned 
them they “ made a mess iii front of tho boiler.” This shows that, although a boiler may he provided 
with all the mountings necessary for its safe working, the person in charge may, either through ignorance 
or negligence, defeat the object in view iu providing the appliances. 
ihe method of raising and lowering men in shafts was another matter which occupied our attention. 
Wo gave a supposititious case to candidates as follows Suppose the poppet-heads at a shaft to be 60 feet iu 
height, aud you wore lowering men from the surface—what distance would you work the engine by hand 
before throwing it into gear ? 
fhe replies to this question varied considerably; some would lower tlie cage 20 feet, some 30 feet, 
some 40 feet, and some 50 feet, but very few admitted that they would lower the cage by band for a distance 
of 60 feet. Now, it is evident that if the engine were worked by hand for a distance of less than 60 feet 
in the supposed case, and it had been accidentally started the wrong way, it would be out of the driver's 
control, and the cage would ho at once carried to the top of the poppet-heads; wherehs, if the engine were 
worked by hand for at least tho distance between tho surface and the top of the poppet-heads, it would not 
have tho same way on, would bo under control, and could be much more readily stopped than if it were in 
gear. 
Wo notice that early last yoar tho Department issued a circular letter to mining managers and others 
with respect to this matfer, and we cannot too strongly urge that the suggestion therein made should receive 
the best attention ol mining managers and engine-drivers, Avitli a view to its adoption at every mine where 
steam machinery is used. 
It has occurred to us, in tho course of the examinations, that it would he to the advantage of the mining 
community if the following alterations were made in any future amendment of Act No. 783, aud wo submit 
them for your consideration:— 
Iu lieu of rule 35 of section 8 substitute the following_ 
“Every boiler shall he provided with a proper steam pressure-gauge and a glass water-gauge, 
and not less than two try-cocks, to show respectively the pressure of steam and the height 
of water in the boiler, and with a proper safety valve, which shall not ho connected With 
either (lie steam pipe or steam stop-valve. At least once in every six months every 
boiler shall be thoroughly cleansed, and once in every twelve months every such boiler 
shall he subjected to a hydraulic test of not less than ono and a half times the pressure 
at which the safety valve blows olf; nevertheless, an inspector may at any time, if he think 
fit, cause any boiler to be subjected to a hydraulic test of twice tho pressure at which the 
safety valve blows oil*. The date and full description of every such test and cleansing 
shall be entored in a book to bo kept for that purpose by the person iu charge of the 
machinery, and tho entries in such book shall on demand be open to tho perusal of an 
iuspcctor under this Act .” 
New General Rule— 
“Before any boiler shall bo built in position for use in connexion with any mino it shall ho 
examined by an inspector, both internally and externally, and it shall bo subjected to a 
hydraulic test of not loss than one and a half times the pressure at which it is proposed 
to work such boiler; nevertheless, an inspector may, if he think fit, cause such boiler 
to be subjected to a hydraulic tost of twice tho pressure at which it is proposod to work 
such boiler. 
“ Tho inspector shall, after tho boiler has been examined by him and been tested, give a 
certificate which shall state—(1) That such boiler has been examined by him, and has 
been tested in accordance with tho provisions of this general rule; (2) tho pressure to 
which such boiler has been subjected, and (3) tho working pressure of steam such boiler 
shall he allowed to carry. 
“ Any person who shall work, or cause to be worked, a boiler at a pressure of steam greater 
than that mentioned in the certificate herein referred to shall be guilty of an offence against 
this Act.”—[See Synopsis of Act, Appendix A, page 92.] 
You will observe by tho schedule on page 3 that a largo majority of engine-drivers applied for and 
obtained “service” certificates, but in many instances they have subsequently applied for and obtained 
“ competency 39 certificates, which latter are guarantees that the holders possess a practical knowledge of 
steam machinery, and are capable of being placed in charge thereof. 
In conducting all future examinations for “ competency,” we contemplate slightly raising the 
standard by requiring candidates to possess a more thorough practical knowledge of the working of steam 
machinery. 
