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"•if 740. That is another element of danger, because in allowing the men to make their own shots they might put coal-dust in as tamping?—lt is an element of danger, and one that should be guarded against. 741. It is absolutely necessary that the tamping should not be with coal-dust, is it not ?— Coal-dust tamping is an element of danger. 742. Have you ever known men to use coal-dust ?—I have examined frequently, and often found the tamping to be of bottom stuff. The firemen never reported coal-dust to be used. Roberts was a certificated man. He held a second-class certificate, and had had a long experience in connection with the mine. Morris did not have a certificate ; but he had been very nearly all his time in the Brunner Mine. Both were trustworthy men. I always found them so. They were never likely to allow gas to remain in a working-face without clearing the mine of it. 742 a. Sir J. Hector.] You promised to give a list of the men killed, and the places they were found in, especially those in the eastern side ?—Yes ; I will put in a plan showing where the bodies were found. Pattinson and Watchman were in their working-places. The pony-driver, Cunhffe, was found in the lower level close to the sump-edge. Then, you have the two Geogehans. They were furthest in, and nearest the sump-level. Brislane was the length of the slit away from his place. Morris, the fireman, was laying rails in Denniston and Hunter's bord. 743. Where was his testing-lamp hanging ?—lt was hanging at the upper end of the same slit, just inside Brislane's bord, the upper end of the incline, close to where Roberts was lying. Roberts was in the incline. 744. Had any person any occasion to be in the bottom level at work on that morning ?—Only the pony-driver. He drove his horse along the foot of this level [indicated on plan]. 745. When would he begin work?—At 8 o'clock. 746. Would there be trucks ready for him ? —Yes. 747. Then, it is reasonable to believe that he must have travelled backwards and forwards with a naked light for an hour and a half before the explosion ?—Yes, with the trucks. 748. Would he have any time on his hands to wander into any other part of the mine ?—I do not think so. 749. You have said that this cutting alongside the No. 4 bord had been prepared for about a week, and that the rails had been laid for less than two weeks, contemplating commencing work on this pillar. Had not a piece been taken off before the rails were laid?— There was a " set-off" left there in driving the bord [indicated on plan]. 750. Is it possible when the rails were laid that a charge could have been put into that shothole and not fired off? —The track was made by Morris. He is not at all likely to have done that. 751. There is a possibility that a slight gas explosion would have ignited the charge if one had been left in the hole ?—Possibly. 752. So that it could really be only indirectly the fault of anybody ?—I do not think it is at all likely that that took place, but it might be possible. 753. The Chairman.] Is there any chance of any man storing powder in that place?—l do not think so. 754. Sir J. Hector.] If the coal were on top of the rails, and the rails were only laid a week before, does not that show that there must have been a fall of coal subsequent to that week?— Yes. 755. And the coal did fall on the rails?— Yes, it was on top of the rails. 756. The coal that was lying on the rails had evidently come from the vicinity of the shot-hole?—I think so. 757. It was not a fall of the roof? —No ; nothing had come from the roof. 758. You say in your experience that the roburite you used might perhaps not have been of good quality?—lt was not any good whatever. 759. You would not be surprised if the experience of another manager for four years in another part of the colony was that some 10 tons of roburite had been used, in blasts varying from a single cartridge to sixteen, and that not a single accident had occurred, nor had there ever been a misfire ?—That would not surprise me. 760. So the roburite in your case must have been imperfect ? —I know it is the explosive used at Home. 761. You say that firedamp would cause an acceleration of a dust explosion, and produce results practically the same. Have you, in your experience, or in the course of your reading, seen it clearly proved that a mere flash of firedamp would ignite the dust ?—I have not seen it clearly proved. I said it would raise the coal-dust and cause an explosion. 762. Would it ignite the air charged with suspended coal-dust ? —I consider that if it had been a firedamp explosion it would only have extended over a limited area, and then have died away. 763. Do you think the back-lash of a firedamp flame could have exploded the coal-dust, or is not the evidence the other way?—So far as I have read, it requires intense heat and a violent shock to start a coal-dust explosion. 764. Mr. Proud.] Was that pillar next to No. 4 bord arranged to be any man's working-place that morning ? —I do not know what the underviewer who set the men to work that morning might have done. lam not quite certain. It is only conjecture when I say it might have been intended to shift certain men to that place as soon as they finished the place they were in. 765. Is the mine inspected by the workmen?—lt has not recently been inspected by the workmen at regular intervals. 766. Would not it be well to carry out that provision ?—This clause in the Act I supported very strongly, and I gave the men every encouragement to inspect the mine. The men have power to appoint their representatives. 767. Would it not be well if it were compulsory ? —lt would.