33

C—6

Greymouth, Monday, 11th May, 1896. Henry W. Young examined. 1. The Chairman.] You have prepared some plans of the Brunner Mine?— Yes. 2. Are they prepared from your own survey or from other plans?— By surveying and plotting. The parts shown by the dotted lines are inaccessible at present on account of water. [Exhibit 9, plan of the Brunner Mine produced]. The survey of the dip-workings is shown in full, and the aircourse is from actual surveying and plotting. The information as to the old workings is reproduced from the old mine plans merely to show their position with regard to the present workings. 3. Mr. Park.] Mr. Bishop showed you where the parties were working ? —We got the information as to the names of the men working in the bords from the workmen with us as we went on and noted it in the field-book. The places shown with dotted lines were under water. The water-line is shown by the blue lines. The blue arrows show the air-currents at the time. 4. You have one black arrow here. What does that represent ?—That is the over-cast air crossing. 5. Sir J. Hector.] Has it been made good ?—Not at present. 6. How does the air return '! — [Witness indicated on the plan.] 7. Mr. Park.] Who pointed out to you the place were the blown-out shot was?— Mr. Cochrane. 8. One of the plans we had showed a tramway. Were there any signs of it when you were there ?—Yes ; the tram runs past the blown-out shot to a face. 9. When where you first in the mine? —On Easter Monday. (Witness also verified Exhibit No. 7, enlarged scale tracing of the immediate scene of a explosion.] Alfred Benjamin Lindop recalled. 10. Sir J. Hector.] The Commissioners wish to get a little more information from you before you leave. You are in charge of the blasting in the mine with which you are connected ?—Yes ; general control. 11. Would you explain your system of blasting?—We have given special written instructions to the mine-manager, and also written instructions to the deputies, with regard to firing shots. Formerly, we allowed the men to fire their own shots ; but after this explosion we went into the question thoroughly, and we decided to take it into our own hands, and the deputies now fire the shots. 12. How many deputies are there ?—We have ten altogether in the different sections. 13. How many men would be working in the shift under these deputies? —Our rule has been for one deputy to twenty men. We have a very bad roof. 14. Could you describe exactly what has to be done when a shot has to be fired ? Who indicates the manner and locality in which the shot has to be driven ?—The miner who holes the coal is the judge of that, and he is also the judge of how to put the shot in; and if the deputy has not approved of the shot he will not allow it to be fired. 15. Does the deputy examine the depth of the hole ?—Yes ; 1 will put the written instructions in evidence. 16. Then, if there is any particular danger about the shot arising from the manner and place it is put in, the deputy stops it ? —He does not allow it to be fired. It has to be properly holed and undercut. 17. Does he remain to see the fuse fired ?—Yes, and lays the fuse. 18. And takes care of the safety of the men ?—Yes ; and they have to use clay-tamping. 19. With reference to the storage and use of explosives in the mine, what system do you follow ?—The miners provide their own powder, so that we do not have to find a magazine for the purpose. The Act fully provides for the storage of gunpowder. 20. How much are they allowed to take into the mine ?—By Act, not more than 51b. 21. Where do the men keep the powder?—ln tins. They keep their own private store at home, or get it from the shop as they want it. 22. Mr. Proud.] Do they not bring in more than one charge?— They take enough for a day's work. 23. Do you allow the men to go into the mine with 41b. of powder on their back without any storage ? —They only go to their working-place. 24. Quite true ; but from the Act it would seem that it ought to be stored until required for immediate use ?—lt is stored in tin canisters. 25. But that is not storing ?—I do not see how you could alter it. 26. Sir J. Hector.] As a matter of practice, where do they get their powder from, and how much at a time ?—They get it from the store in 251b. barrels. 27. What do they do with the barrel ?—They take it to their homes. We have nothing to do with that. 28. I wish to bring out the point as to whether the keg of powder is properly stored ? —I do not know that, as the men take it home. 29. How many men are there about the place who are hewers?—l6o men. 30. Has each of them a keg of powder? —No, not exactly. The men buy it in small quantities, as some places do not require much powder, and therefore they would not require to buy much. 31. Then, if they bought the powder they would keep it in their living houses ?—I am afraid they would, but the stores have magazines. 32. But the miners themselves would not have magazines?—No, I think they would take it home with them. 33. Do you think the present law is sufficient in that respect?—l think the Act is sufficient. 34. Mr. Proud.] Do you consider that the severe inclination of the seam at the Brunner Mine introduces danger from firedamp ? —No, I do not think it would. If any firedamp was given off it would only rise, without accumulating. 5—C. 6.