I.—4a.

14

19. You did not put that charge of dynamite under the dam ?—I did not. I did not see the dynamite, but I heard it was there. 20. Are you satisfied that Mitchell did not put it there?—l do not know who put it there. 21. Are you satisfied it was there? —Yes. 22. Did you see below the dam ?—No. 23. Could you see the sides when you were there ?—I saw the sides. 24. Did it not require cutting out or blasting the bottom ?—Yes; it was cut down by the picks and wedges. 25. There was no blasting? —Not that I am aware of. 26. You do not know whether there was or not ?—I was not there to see it. 27. Are you sure that Mr. Tennent did not bring that dynamite in there ? —I think it would be just as unlikely as that you or I did. 28. Do you think the first dam put in was tight ?—From the evidence I saw I should certainly say it was. 29. When ?—Some time after it was put in. 30. Did you see that it was tight?— No. I was in Otago at the time. I was shown the subsidence where the water flowed up over the top, and a ditch was cut to carry it away from the tunnel-mouth. 31. You did not see it ?—No. 32. In Mr. Tennent's report he says the dam was finished satisfactorily and substantially on the 9th February?—He is referring to the air-dam. 33. How do you know that ? —Because the water-dam was put in afterwards. I was there myself in February. 34. Were you there on the 9th February?— No. 35. Are you sure the dam was finished then ? —I am sure the water-dam was not started then It was built by the company after the end of February. 36. But the company was not in existence then ?—The company granted a sum of money for it. 37. Was not the stopping finished on the 6th February? —Yes ; but not the dam to turn back the pressure of water. 38. What does Mr. Tennent mean when he says that the clay stopping was done on the sth February?— That would be the air-stopping at the entrance to the mine, but a water-stopping was put alongside it a month or so afterwards. 39. Mr. Tennent says it was finished on the 9th February?—He does not say it was the water-dam. He is referring to the air-dam. 40. How do you know ? —I know because I was there myself between the time the air-dam and the water-dam were built. 41. When this water-dam was finished did Mr. Tennent report that it was watertight?—l would not be quite sure from memory. 42. Do you know whether he made any report at all in connection with it?— From memory I could not be certain. I was away South on the Rivers Commission until June. 43. You state, I think, that the company got Mr. Dixon to go there ?—Yes. 44. You are sure of that ?—Yes. 45. Who asked him to go on behalf of the company ?—Mr. Bayfield. 46. Are you satisfied that Mr Bayfield has not written to the Minister of Mines denying that ?—I do not know. I will read you what Mr. Dixon himself says. 47. Where was Mr. Dixon?—At Granity. 48. He received the message from Westport ?—He says it was a telephonic message. 49. How could Mr. Bayfield communicate with him on Sunday ? —These things are very easily done. Arrangements can be made with the railway-station. 50. There is no telephonic communication with Granity on Sunday ?—There is a private wire in Mr. Dixon's own house. 51. Is it not a fact that they went out by railway-trolly and told Mr. Dixon?—l have not heard of that. 52. You make the assertion that Mr. Bayfield did ask him to go there?—l do, on Mr. Dixon's own authority. 53. Are you aware whether Mr. Bayfield had any connection with the company at this time ? —To the best of my knowledge he had. 54. You do not know as a matter of fact ?—I understand he was agent for the company. 55. You do not know ? —I do not know absolutely for certain. 56. When you were there in February did the department take any active steps in connection with the fire?-—At that time active steps had been taken. 57. By whom ?—By Mr. Tennent on behalf of the lessors, and by Mr. Dixon on behalf of the lessees. 58. What active part did Mr. Tennent take ? —By sealing the mine to make it airtight. 59. How long did it take ?—About twelve days according to Mr. Dixon's report. 60. And still you say the department did not accept any responsibility ?—The Crown was lessor and the company lessee, and the company was then in existence. 61. And was the whole of the works under Mr. Tennent's control ?—No; between him and Mr. Dixon jointly. 62. How long was Mr. Dixon there?—-He was there several days. 63. How many?—l could not tell exactly. 64. You do not know how long Mr. Dixon was there ?—I do not know, without taking out the time from Mr. Dixon's report.