144   Mining communications

(1)  If the working of any such mines under the authorised work or within the abovementioned distance therefrom is prevented as aforesaid, by reason of apprehended injury to such authorised work, the respective owners, lessees, and occupiers of such mines and whose mines extend so as to lie on both sides of the authorised work may cut and make so many airways, headways, gateways, or water-levels through the mines, measures, or strata, the working whereof is so prevented, as may be requisite to enable them to ventilate, drain, and work their said mines.

(2)  No such airway, headway, gateway, or water-level shall be of greater dimensions or section than the prescribed dimensions and sections, and where no dimensions are prescribed, not greater than 2.5 metres wide and 2.5 metres high, or of such a nature as to injure or to impede the passage on, to, through or over the same.