Woman’s grandma ‘could recall her mum screaming’

The Kaitangata community held a ceremony to commemorate the 140th anniversary of one of New Zealand’s largest mining disasters. Damian Rowe talks to some of those involved.

Jackie Stoff’s grandmother was only three when the Kaitangata mine exploded in 1879, but she could remember the day vividly. ‘‘My grandmother said she could remember her mother screaming,’’ Stoff said.

‘‘She would have been only three at the time but I think something as traumatic as that would have stayed with a toddler.’’

Stoff recalled her grandmother’s memory at a commemoration of the disaster yesterday, organised by Kaitangata Primary School teacher Ruth Baldwin.

She was unaware of the plans when she came to lay flowers on the headstone of her greatgrandfather William Parker, who died in the explosion.

The effort made by the school had taken Stoff back, particularly the reading of Parker’s obituary by year 8 student Jordan Atkin-Coultts.

Kaitangata Primary School pupils dressed up in 1800s attire and proceeded from the town to the graves of the miners who lost their lives on February 21, 1879.

It was one of New Zealand’s largest mining disasters and it took the lives of 34 people after an explosion erupted in the mine.

The children laid crosses by the miners graves, read speeches and obituaries.

‘‘The students have been learning about the explosion, the causes, the impact it had on the community and how we remember the past and the lives of the individual miners,’’ Baldwin said.

Kaitangata church pastor Alex McLaughlin ended the ceremony with a speech and prayer, thanking the brave men who risked their lives retrieving the bodies from the explosion.

He said no-one should be blamed for the event, particularly Archibald Hodge, who was often blamed for carrying the candle that lit the flame to the open gas.

‘‘The students have been learning about the explosion, the causes, the impact it had on the community and how we remember the past and the lives of the individual miners.’’ Kaitangata Primary School teacher Ruth Baldwin

The students who had learned about the disaster were knowledgeable about the disaster, the effects to the community and the enforcement of health and safety as a result of the disaster.

Year 8 student Zara Milne said health and safety regulations were already in place, but no-one had followed them until after the disaster.

‘‘It changed the town quite a bit, nowadays you have to to to Balclutha for everything. Back then you had the butcher, the bakery and all the shops [in Kaitangata].’’

Year 8 student Rylan Gouman said: ‘‘I think it was quite sad once they opened back the other mines. I think they had it in the back of their heads that it could happen again’’.

Mining still plays an important role in Kaitangata, with several open cast mines in the area.

Coal that has fallen from trucks can be seen regularly throughout the township.

PHOTOS: ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Waiting to start the march up to the cemetery with classmates is Toby Milne, 5.

Ella McKenzie, left, and Erynne Parlane, hold flowers as they march up to the cemetery with classmates.

The monument to the miners erected for the centenary at Kaitangata cemetery. Rylan Gouman, on right, speaks to the school children at the cemetery as part of Kaitangata School’s commemoration of the town’s coal mine disaster 140 years ago, where 34 men were killed in an explosion.