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363. What is the next point of difference?—l think these are the only points we differ on. 364. The men having been at work for more Jhan an hour before the explosion took place, what deduction would you make from that ? —The deduction I would make is that the workingfaces were sufficiently safe, or the men would not have been allowed to go to work. 365. Having been allowed to go to work, and having been there for an hour, would not you suppose that the place had been examined, and found free from gas ? —I should say the only point likely to be doubtful was in Brislane's bord, where the safety-lamps were found. 366. Mr. Joyce.] Did you find gas in any other place than Mr. Russell gives ?—No, I do not think we did. There were two places mentioned—the bord above Watchman's on top of the fall, and No. 1 sump-level. 367. In the bord above Watchman's, was there a large or small amount found? Do you think from the fall there would be sufficient to produce an explosion under ordinary circumstances if mixed with air?—l could not tell. 368. Have you formed any theory as to what was the cause of this explosion ?—No. 369. Would you say it was coal-dust or gas ? —I could not say. 370. Do you think the explosion occurred from a blown-out shot ?—I am not inclined that way. 371. Well, you do not believe it did ?—No, I do not. 372. I think the next slit showed evidence of the force having gone up ?—Yes. 373. Did you notice anything in Hunter's and Denniston's bord?—Just similar to what Mr. Russell has spoken about. There were indications of some considerable force having been exerted upwards, and having come up the slit. 374. We have had some evidence about a rebound. Do you know whether there was any water at the bottom of the dip ?—I could not say, as we never got into the bottom level. 375. You do not know whether, during the last year or two, there has been water down in the bottom incline ?—They have always been troubled with water in the main dip. 376. Assuming that there was water at the bottom, and the force of the explosion came down, do you think the resistance would have been as great as if it had struck the solid wall, or do you think the force of the explosion would expend itself in the water ?—lt is reasonable to think that there would be no such rebound from water as against a solid wall of coal; but Ido not know. 377. Were you in with the rescuing-party ? —Yes. 378. Did you notice how the lamps burned?—ln our crowd they burned fairly well. 379. Was the light intensified or decreased from the gas ? —I do not think I noticed ; I never had to use the pricker to prick up the lamp. 380. Have you ever seen an explosion before, or been connected with one ? —Not of any consequence. 381. When you were working in the Brunner Mine, some years ago, did you find gas pretty regularly there?—l found it on one occasion, which was stated in the inquiry. 382. Did you get singed yourself?— Yes, but to no great extent. 383. Where did the gas come from —a " blower " ?—lt may have been from the cutting. 384. Was that in the dip-workings or the " rise" ?—The " rise " workings, right inside from the main drive. 385. In what is called the old workings now ?—Yes. 386. Did you ever see gas in the mine at any other time? Did you ever notice it by the flare of the lamp ?—We have had a flare in the lamp. 387. On account of the gas ?—Yes. 388. Was it the custom to work at that time with naked lights ?—Yes. 389. So far as you know, from your experience, the custom in the Brunner Mine has been to use safety lamps where there was gas ?—Yes, when I was there. 390. You have never seen safeties used without there was gas ?—Wherever there was the least idea she was making a little gas. 391. Unless she was making gas you would not use the safeties?—l could not say anything about that. 392. You do not know whether the fact of safeties being found in Brislane's bord was an indication that the gas was making ? —I have no proof of it. 393. Do you think the deputy of the mine should be required to lay roads and cut timber in addition to his ordinary duties ? —They do so in the Home country where I was, the same as they do at Brunner. 394. What was the practice when you were there ? In bratticing, did they brattice right to the face, or how far away did they bring the air? —They bratticed by boards where necessary. 395. You say you have sufficient ventilation at the face. Do they brattice up to the face, or how many feet away do they keep the brattice ? —lt depends upon the condition of the face. If the air was very slack, they would keep the brattice out. If it was a leading place, and there was the least indication of gas being there, they would keep the bratticing close up to the face. They took all proper precautions at the time I was working in the mine. 396. What was the ventilation like at the time you were there ?—Fairly good. 397. As good as you would find in most mines?— Yes. 398. Do you think the return-air shaft was sufficiently good?— Mostly, but in places it was narrow. 399. In other places, what did you find ?—I think it was rather restricted. 400. Do you think it was sufficient to take out the air which was coming down the main intake ?—I believe that it is possible to force sufficient air through a very small pipe. 401. Do you think it would be better for the mine to have a return-air course of larger dimensions in case of an explosion ?—I do not think the air-course would help ; had it been twenty times larger it could not have saved any lives.