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594. With reference to the safety-lamps that were being used in Brislane's bord, might the force have generated somewhere near Brislane's bord ?—I do not think so ;my reason is that I got the brattice-cloth driven directly into Brislane's bord.--595. But it might have worked round up one of these slits to the bottom level, and then gone back again ?—I do not think that it is possible. 596. Do you think from the fact that Morris's safety-lamp was found in Brislane's bord that gas had been found that morning ?—lf Morris had found gas in that bord he would not have withdrawn the lamps until such time as he got instructions from the overman to withdraw them, even if no gas had been seen for a week in the place. 597. Of course, if Morris had found gas a week before he would have reported it?— Yes. 598. If he found it before he would report it in his book, and unless he found the gas he would not use safety-lamps? —That is so. I have put safety-lamps where there was no gas. 599. For what reason ? —I had found a trace of gas four or five shifts in front, and have kept the safety-lamps burning. My orders were not to withdraw until I got orders to do so. 600. If Morris had found gas four or five shifts before, he would have reported it in his book, would he not ?—I think so. 601. And if it is not reported in his book, he must have found it that morning ? —I would not say that; but if he had any doubt at all he would give the men lamps. 602. On March the 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 24th Morris reported, " I found the workings free from gas." Ido not see any mention in March that he had found any gas in the mine. Do you think he would be doing his duty if he had found gas there and did not report it ?—I have known him thirty years, and I never knew him to neglect his duty. 603. Did you ever know safety-lamps to be put in where there was no trace of gas found ?—Yes. 604. Where ? —ln the Brunner dip; because gas had been found thirteen days before, and the lamps had been kept there, especially when they were going through coal. 605. There would have been a report on that gas being found when they were going into the solid ? —The report might have been quite clear, but still the lamps would have been given. I have reported myself "clear" ; at the same time, I knew it was my orders not to withdraw the lamps until such time as the overman was satisfied. 606. Before you put your lamps in you had found gas. Have you, in your experience, known safety-lamps to be put in before you found a trace of gas. As a starting-point, as we find that Morris has not reported the gas in Brislane's bord for over a month before the explosion we must presume that gas was found on the morning of the explosion in Brislane's bord, otherwise safetylamps would not have been given? —I would not presume that. At the same time, Brislane's might have had safety-lamps all along till such time as Roberts would see fit to tell Morris to withdraw them. 607. Brislane might have had safety-lamps for over a month?— Yes, for all I know. 608. As a matter of fact, gas must have been found in Brislane's bord, and a report made by Morris ?—Yes. 609. The inference then is that gas was found that morning ? —I might state here that it makes us so confident that Morris did his duty in the night-shift for two years. I saw him going round in the morning. He always passed in the morning, and I consider did his duty in every respect. Where there has been a further fall on the top of another fall I have on several occasions gone with him to the top of them. 610. I am only assuming that if he did not report he must have found gas that morning ?—I cannot say. 611. How far would a man go away from that shot, assuming he would go to another place while it was being discharged ? —I would have liked to have been outside the mine. 612. If you had been the man firing the shot, where would you have been ?—I do not think I would have been the man to have fired a shot like that. 613. But how far do you think they would go in the case of an extraordinary shot ?—I should think they were quite far enough if they were at the end of No. 2 incline. 614. You think that is the farthest a man would go ?—That is as far as I would go in case of an ordinary shot. 615. And you would expect to find the body of a man there?—l did not see anything found. 616. You would expect to find the body of the man there who fired the shot ?—lf it were an ordinary shot, and the man was not in his place, I am continent you would look for him there. 617. If you were not confident that it was not an ordinary shot, and you were not working in this place, how far would you have gone away ?—lf it was a fair shot I would go the distance of the first stenton. 618. You say you would not put a shot in like that?— No. 619. Have you ever seen a blown-out shot ? —No; I have seen the flash come out of the shot. 620. Have you ever met with a blown-out shot ? —I have had it flash out as much as 20 yards from the workings. It was shaley-coal. 621. In the Brunner Mine? —In the Brunner, but not in the dip, and outside of this first fault* It would have carried the flame 20 yards. 622. No matter how careful you are, do you not have blown-out shots sometimes ? — They cannot be guaranteed against very well. 623. When you saw this blown-out shot which you had in your experience, did it ever strike the floor? —I could not exactly tell. I was standing a fair distance out when it occurred. 624. Did it raise any coal-dust?— Coal and flame. There was no gas within 25 yds. to light it. 625. Did you notice any marks afterwards?—l did not pay particular attention, and I did not notice any dent in the floor or walls. 626. Do you consider, if you were working with safety-lamps in one portion of the mine, that it would be advisable to use naked lights in another part of the mine in the same shift ? —lt depends whether there was gas there, and the quantity of it.