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1116. Shortly before the explosion?—l had not been in the mine for at least six months before. 1117. What do you think of the machinery and appliances ?—They seemed to be all that was required. 1118. Was the machinery fairly well manned. I suppose that you made a specialty of that? —No; I did not make a specialty of it at that time because there was an Inspector of Mines for the district, and I left that to him. 1119. You were satisfied that it was all right ? —Yes. 1120. Did you see the air-course? —I went through the return air-course. 1121. What did you think of it, as to its sufficiency?—lt was good enough to carry off the return air. 1122. When you were in, did you find a fairly large quantity of air coursing through the mine? —There was plenty of air in the air-course. 1123. Could a man get along that air-course easily supposing there had been a block in the main dip ?—He could get along it; of course, it was not good walking. 1124. Would you expect good walking?— No. 1125. Especially after the blowing-out of the stoppings?— No. 1126. Did you notice anything wrong with the management of the mine ? —No. I look upon Mr. Bishop as an extremely careful man. 1127. Did you know any of the officers of the mine below Mr. Bishop—Morris, for instance? —I did not know Morris personally. 1128. Do you think that the conveniences about the mine were as good as they generally are? —Yes. 1129. Did you find anything whereby you could attribute negligence to the company or manager?—No; there was nothing. I am satisfied of that. I could not attribute negligence to the company or manager. 1130. Did you notice the air-current on your last visit before the explosion?—No; I never was through the air-course. 1131. The intake? —That was the proper road. 1132. Was there a good air-current through the mine ?—Yes. 1133. I suppose if it gets in it must get out ?—Of course, if there is a current at all it must get out. 1134. Mr. Guinness.] You observed at that blown-out hole the direction of the discharge? —Yes. 1135. Did you take any measurement to see in which direction that shot blew out ?—No ; the hole was about 2ft. lin. 1136. Did you minutely examine the locality ?—Yes. 1137. Could you say from that examination whether the shot had been recently discharged?— There was no doubt about it, because of the coking about the hole. That was the only place where there was so much rubbish, and there was not the slightest trace of gas. I consider the disaster totally due to the coal-dust explosion. 1138. Did you go down towards No. 1 road or drive? —Down all the dip-workings. 1139. Did you observe any indication on the sides of the slit going down ?—The force had appeared to have gone in both directions. There is no doubt it went downwards and inwards, and it cannoned against the slit, where it had split itself into two divisions; the greatest force was upwards. 1140. You have no doubt it cannoned against that slit and went down this bord [indicated on plan] until it got to the lowest workings ?—lt could not go any further. 1141. Did you notice if the greatest force were observable on the sides of this slit [indicated] in an upward direction instead of a downward direction ?—I would not expect that because of the force of the rebound; and another matter is that the explosion would gather force as it went up. The principal force of the explosion in some bords was upwards; that was shown by the props, a great number of which show that the greatest force was upwards. 1142. Would you expect from a blown-out shot and coal-dust explosion to see most of the indication of the force going upwards ?—lt would depend on circumstances. It might go partly both ways. 1143. I want your opinion as to whether you think that from a blown-out shot the greatest force is upwards or downwards?—lt would be upwards, because the intensity of the explosion would increase as it travelled. 1144. Did you ever gauge the quantity of air coming down the intake ?—No; I have asked Mr. Cochrane, and he has told me the quantity. I think the quantity of air sufficient for all the men in the pit, and more. 1145. You say you have known Mr. Bishop for how many years ? —I have known him ever since he became manager of the Brunner Mine. He has been manager of the mine for thirteen years, and I look upon him as an extremely careful man. 1146. You have every confidence in his efficient management of the works connected with the mine?—l have every confidence in that man. I believe him to be a first-class reliable man. 1147. Have you ever drawn either Mr. Bishop's or the proprietors' attention to any machinery or appliances in or about the mine as not being sufficient, or defective in any respect ?—No. 1148. You have often visited that mine, and the last time was six months before—about?—lt would be more than that; it was in the month of May or June last year. 1149. During the last ten years you have been Inspector of Mines have you made systematic visits to these works ?—I have been frequently in the mine. 1150. Did you observe the manner in which the works were carried on ?—Yes; and I never found any fault or objection.