Benstone Pit Disaster - 23th. October 1860 - Inspector of Mines Report The greater part of the coal workings on the estate of Johnstone are of an ancient date, and the plans, which can be traced for upwards of 60 years, do not convey all the information required, regarding the explorations which have been made in that isolated coal-field. Benstone pit is situated considerably to the " dip' of the old pits (situated to the "rise," known to be lying full of water, and which have been abandoned for many years); it is 54 fathoms deep, and at the time of the accident there were two seams of coal being worked in it. These seams lie near to each other, and the distance between them seldom exceeds ten feet. The workmen had felt anxious regarding the security of this colliery for some time; they dreaded "waste" water, and the position of the greater part of the waste was well known to those intrusted with the management. When I visited the colliery, in July last, I examined the whole of it, and pointed out to the manager the only safe way to conduct underground works under such circumstances, namely, by keeping bore holes in advance of the exploring mines. I understand that bore holes had been kept in advance at certain points, and for some time previous to the accident, the level which was supposed to be the most dangerous place, had been altogether abandoned. While the "waste" to the south of the pit was dreaded, and proper precautions were taken to prevent inundation unexpectedly, no one thought of driving an exploring mine to the north. It was known that the "Shaws " pit was connected with No. 8 pit, and that an exploring mine had been driven from the "Shaws " pit to the west, but there existed no plans to show the limits of the workings in that direction. According to the evidence of some of the workmen, who had long worked about the colliery, the exploring mine above referred to had been abandoned 40 years ago. They were aware that it had been driven to the west, and the late oversman had explained that its position was to the north of Benstone bridge. This traditional record was the only guide for the workings to the north of the pit; and assuming it to have been correct, the works at the time of the accident were 46 fathoms from the point named. The water is supposed to have entered by the room forming a connexion with the exploring mine from "Shaws " pit. There was no seeming want of care in the manner in which the works to the south were conducted, where a "waste" containing water was known to exist; and I have every reason to believe that if those connected with the management had anticipated "waste " so near to the north of the pit, that the usual precautions would have been adopted there also. However, I cannot forbear remarking that the workings from "Shaws" pit were more recent than those from No. 8 pit, and others delineated on plan; and that some of the late managers must have neglected to carry out the prudent arrangements of their predecessors. The importance of mining plans has been long since demonstrated ; and the Mine Inspection Act, which provides that proper plans shall be made and exhibited of all underground works, will in future, to a great extent, prevent the loss of life from such accidents; but it is painful to reflect that there are several collieries throughout the mining districts situated similar to that which I have just described; and there is no means now of correcting the errors of the past.