Durham Mining Museum - Newspaper Articles (original) (raw)

26th May 1934, Page: 360, Column: 1

Fifty Years Ago

Note on meeting of Manchester Geological Society in the WIGAN OBSERVER in May, 1884 :—

MANCHESTER GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. — A meeting of the members of the Manchester Geological Society was held in the rooms of the Literary and Philosophical Society. Mr. Joseph Dickinson, Inspector of Mines for this district, occupied the chair.Mr. Brown, of Tyldesley, exhibited models of patent safety catches to be applied to cages in pits where wire rope guides are used. The Chairman stated that at present, so far as he knew, there were no safety catches in use where wire guides were employed. Mr. Brown having explained the working of the catches, he, on the motion of the Chairman, was thanked for bringing the models before the meeting. Mr. John Knowles described the effects of a descent of an electric current into the New Rivin Colliery, at Little Lever, during the thunderstorm which occurred on February 21st last. A flash of lightning struck a chimney at the top of the pit, and ran along the ground and over the iron plates round the mouth of the pit. It then ran down the iron guides of one of the steam pipes and so got into the workings, where it was felt by several of the men employed there. A conversation ensued, andMr. Knowles was thanked for his communication. Mr. G. H. Peace described the system of haulage employed at the Astley and Tyldesley Coal and Salt Company's collieries, which comprise self-acting planes, single downbrow ropes, and endless ropes, the engine in every case being placed underground and supplied with steam from the surface boilers through pipes in the upcast shafts.