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295. Did you take the measurement of the depth of it?—lt would measure almost the same, as far as my memory goes, ten months ago as it does now. 296. You measured it then ?—Yes. Not me, but the overman, Mr. Roberts. I was present when he measured it. 297. What do you remember was the measure then ? —lt was a little longer than from his elbow to the end of his fingers. 298. Have you seen it measured since the accident ?—Yes. 299. Can you say whether it was driven further ahead or about the same depth?—l do not think it has been driven further ahead. 300. You are prepared to swear it has not been driven ?—I would not say it was not driven. 301. Sir J. Hector.] Do you think that the hole was fired ten months ago ? —That had been a fast hold when the bord was being cut. 302. Mr. Park.] Are there any cracks about ?—Yes ; alongside. 303. Ten months ago ?—Yes; it was opened a little alongside of it by the force of the powder. It was the least cracked. 304. Mr. Beare.] If there had been a gas explosion in Pattinson's bord, would you have the same effects given off at so many different points?—l could not say anything about that. 305. Do you think there was a possibility of an accumulation of gas anywhere sufficient to produce an explosion of such extent ? —No ; that is my trouble. Constable Beattie examined. 306. The Chairman.] Did you receive a precept from Mr. Stratford to summon a Coroner's jury ?—No. 307. Were the jurors indicated, or did the precept generally direct you to summon the jury?— It was a precept generally to summon the jurors. 308. How did you know what jurors to summon?— Mr. Stratford, the Coroner, told me not to summon any one connected with the mine. 309. How came you not to summon any coal-miners ?—I understood from Mr. Stratford that there were no coal-miners to be put on the jury. 310. Were you not acquainted with the Act, which says that there shall be a certain number of coal-miners on the jury ?—I may have misunderstood Mr. Stratford. He came here one day, and asked me to indicate six good citizens for him, and I did so. 311. Who were they?— The best men we could get about Brunnerton. I did name a miner named Armstrong, but we could not find him, and Mr. Stratford had to put a Mr. Ring, of Greymouth, on. There are coal-miners round here who are not connected with the mine. 312. I suppose you would not have had any difficulty in summoning them?— No. 313. Were you acquainted with the clause in the Coal-mines Act?—No; I am not well acquainted with that clause. 314. And Mr. Stratford made no reference to it ? —I understood from him that no miners were to be on the jury. 315. I understand you simply summoned the jurors who were pricked off by Mr. Stratford ?— Mr. Stratford asked me to pick six good reliable men as a jury. 316. And no coal-miners?—l understood him to say, " nobody connected with the mine." 317. Sir J. Hector.] Did you take that to mean they must not be coal-miners of any kind?— Yes; although I did have one miner down—a man named Armstrong; but we could not find him. He had been mining, but I was not aware of it at the time of mentioning his name to Mr. Stratford. 318. I suppose there were other miners who were accessible, and who you might have summoned had you been aware of the section ?—Yes. 319. Men who might have been connected with the mine in former times, but who at the time of the occurrence were not connected with it ?—There are men here who have not been connected with the mine for some time past. William Dunn examined. 320. Mr. Joyce.] You are underground manager of the Brunner Colliery ?—Yes 321. For how long ? —Since this explosion. Previous to that I was getting coals. 322. Did you ever work in the dip-workings ?—Yes ; about two years ago. 323. Previous to the date of the explosion where did you work?—ln the Coolgardie rise workings. 324. During the time you worked in the dip-workings did you ever see gas accumulate in the Brunner Mine ?—I did not. 325. Did ypu ever see signs of gas ?—Not at any time. 326. Do you know what the custom of the fireman was ? —The custom was to go all about the mine to see if it was all safe before the workmen went into work. He then returned to the cabin and sent the men to their places. 327. Did he examine only the working-places, or the whole of the mine?— That question I am not prepared to answer direct. He is supposed to examine all the mine and all the adjacent places to the working ones. 328. Do you know if it was the custom of the fireman to do that ? —I could not say whether he examined them or not. I can only say what was his duty. 329. Were the men always under the impression that the fireman did that before they went to work ?—Yes ; I have never heard any opinion expressed to the contrary. 330. I believe that Morris was the fireman during the whole time ?—Yes ; he was a very experienced man,