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Coal when he was over here, and if it had been good he would have worked it. That is my opinion. 176. Do you know of your own knowledge whether the coal is good or bad?— No. 177. Did you see any of it ? —No. 178. You do not know whether Messrs. Alison, Shore, and Foster are right when they say there are 13 acres of good marketable coal there ?—No; because they never saw it any more than I did. 179. How do you know they did not get in to see it ?—Because they could not get into the mine at all. 180. But they got in some distance—how far ?—Not further than this air-stopping; perhaps a couple of chains from the entrance. 181. You cannot say what effect the fire would have on that part of the coalfield?—As far as the Bridge section is concerned, the fire would practically have no effect on that, because the coal in the Bridge section, from the amount of ground they have opened out, has proved itself uncommercial. 182. How much ground have they opened out there ?—lt is shown on the plan. 183. But they have only just started on that, as a matter of fact ?—No; what they found there was that the coal next to the outcrop was fairly hard, but when they got further into it it was very soft. There is some barren ground between the workings and the Cave area, according to Mr. Broome. 184. Well, now, this ground being burnt (? barren), what difference would it make in opening up that country—a distance of about ten miles from Mokihinui to Ngakawau ?—I do not know that it would make any difference, because, as far as I know the country, I think it is a country that might be opened from that Cave area. However, Ido not know the district well enough to speak confidently. 185. Do you think the fire likely to get across the outcrops at Chasm Creek ?—No. 186. Why not ?—Because it would have about 8 or 9 chains of a gap to span. 187. Is it not all bush?—lt is not bush down that 100 ft. of rock gully. 188. Do you mean to convey the idea that a bush will not convey that fire across Chasm Creek to this ten miles of coal-bearing country ?—I was not thinking of a bush-fire; I was thinking of a mine-fire. 189. But what is your opinion ? —A bush-fire might carry it, but I do not know anything about bush-fires. 190. But you think it would be possible for a bush-fire to do it ?—lt might be possible. 191. You said you do not know how much the Government have spent on trying to extinguish this fire. Are they still working at it ?—Not to my knowledge. 192. You do not know whether they are or not?—l do not think they are. 193. What are the last reports from Mokihinui that you have seen? —I saw a report a few days ago that the dam was tight. 194. Do you know how much the bridge cost—the bridge across Chasm Creek ?—Only from Mr. Broome's statement. 195. Has the Inspector reported to the department that the bridge is likely to be carried away or burnt down, or has practically started to burn down?—l have not heard of its being burnt down. 196. Did you see the bridge ?—Yes. 197. Do you think, from your own knowledge, that it cost £1,000? —-I should not think so. 198. Mr. Tennent has not reported to the department that the bridge is in danger—that it is likely to be carried away at any time ? —Not from fire; but he reported to the department that owing to the soft coal on the bridge side, on the opposite side of Chasm Creek, the ground was giving way. 199. When did he report that ?—lt might be ten days ago, perhaps. 200. Did he report about the anchorage of the bridge carrying away ? —That was it; the ground was slipping, and the anchorages were weakening. 201. How far has the coal been worked from the end of the bridge on the Hector block side ?— No coal had been worked on that side for some time before operations were stopped. 202. But how close to the end of the bridge has the coal been worked ?—Perhaps a little over a chain. Judging from the plan, it is probably a chain and a half. There is a sketch among these papers illustrating that. [Sketch produced.] 203. Now, Messrs. Alison, Shore, and Foster reported that had a capable man been placed in charge at first there would have been no trouble in putting the fire out: what is your opinion in regard to that statement? —I do not know what to make of it, especially when the other circumstances are taken into consideration. 204. What circumstances do you mean ?—To begin with, I am not aware that either Mr. Foster or Mr. Alison are men experienced with regard to fires—in fact, I believe they admit they have not had any such experience. Mr. Shore has, because I know the Kaitangata Mine, where he was manager, is a place where they have had some experience of fires. 205. But must not Mr. Alison have a certificate before being manager?—A man may be brought up all his life in collieries and never experience a fire. 206. Were those men right or wrong when they said that had a capable man been placed in charge at first there would have been no trouble in putting the fire out ?—I am not sure whether a statement of that kind would not be actionable. 207. Take another paragraph in this report: "In conclusion, if the department carry out the above recommendations, we would urge that they appoint a thoroughly competent man, who has had experience of underground fires, to supervise the work, as the building of these dams