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64. Do you think that action would cause a supply of air to the fire and make it burn up'and heat the roof instead of cooling it ?—lt cooled the roof, and it came down with a smash for about a chain. 65. If you had bratticed the bord fully instead of doing that, would you have kept the fire quiet ?—Yes, in the meantime ; but he (Mr. Dixon) wanted to cool the roof to get up into it. 66. What did you do then ?—After that, we ran out to the main road, and had a spell while there was a portion of the air going up. All our tools were up there, and we proceeded to pack up to get the tools up. We got all the overcast canvas, when he (Mr. Dixon) said, " I have seen enough." He told us to take the canvas down and retire to the first stenton, and to put a fast stopping of canvas in. We did so, and, after that was finished, we went down to the main road. She was left standing then for a few days, until Mr. Tennent came. 67. Was that on the Friday evening?—l could not be certain of the date. 68. Do you know when you started again ?—I could not give the date. We were a day or two off. 69. Would it not have been easier to subdue the fire by keeping on, although you might have found the first stopping ineffective ?—lt would have been better to keep going at it. The longer you keep it standing the worse it gets. 70. Were you there the next day when Mr. Tennent and Mr. Dixon arrived ?—I do not think Mr. Dixon came the next day. Mr. Tennent started himself to it. 71. What did you do then?—l went to the other side to do something. They proceeded into the drive, and only got up a certain length. The fire was hopeless then. 72. What did you do then ?—Put in the clay stoppings. 73. Were you at the building of the clay stoppings from the start ?—I was. 74. In what way did you proceed to work ?—The outside stopping was dug down on to the floor, and champered a little bit in to hold the timber. There were three stoppings, and packed up solid to the roof. 75. Who was superintending that work ?—Mr. Mitchell was our boss then. 76. Was Mr. Tennent there then?—He was there all the time. 77. Do you know whether they expected that stopping to dam back the water?—l could not say. 78. What was your opinion at the time ?—I did not know what it was put up for, but thought it was to prevent the ventilation going in. °- 79. You do not think it was for stopping both air and water?—l did not know it was for that. 80. When you started to put that in, do you think you could have gone in 8 or 10 chains further up the tunnel and put it in there ?—We might. It would be according to the air going then. b & 81. Was the fan working when you \vere putting this up?— There was no fire where we were putting the stopping up. 82. Was there temporary bratticing between the fire and where you were putting the stopping up ?—No ; the fire was not within 18 or 20 ft. (? chains) of that. 83. Are you sure there was no temporary bratticing in the tunnel to keep off the back draught from you?— Not that I know of. 84. If you had gone further in could you have put the stopping in ?—Yes, I think so. 85. After that stopping was put in what did you do ?—We were dispensed with after that stopping was put in. 86. Did you put another stopping in further out than that?—l assisted to put one in next the bridge. 87. Mr. Lomas.] The second stopping was opposite to the mouth of the mine, was it not ? Yes. 88. Mr. Harden.] Were the workings of the same nature at the previous fires you had been at ?—I reckon the Mokihinui workings are principally the same. 89. But not the other fire at Castle Hill ?—That would be similar too, but the workings were much deeper. 90. And on a rise ?—She had 2,000 ft. of a down grade, and after tnat the workings were on a rise. 91. How long has the fire been out at Mokihinui ?—I do not know whether it is out now. It was blocked off successfully when I was there. I have not been working there any more than about a week since I came back. 92. You say that Mitchell was dilatory in going to the Cardiff fire at first. Do you know where he was found ?—No. 93. Or how long it took Martin to find him ?—lt was Mr. Keals's boy who found him. 94. How long after you sent for him was it before he arrived on the scene ?—He was there in an hour or two afterwards. 95. I suppose the time seemed pretty long to you while waiting?— Yes, it did. 96. When did Mr. Tennent and Mr. Broome come out? The fire was discovered on the Sunday ?—Yes. Mr. Tennent and Mr. Rowland Broome, I think, came out on the Sunday. 97. Did you not go to the mine with them ?—No, I was at the mine. 98. You all set to work to find where the fire was ?—We went round to the other side to put up these brattice-stoppings to prevent any air coming in. 99. You say that after doing that the only thing you might have done was to put in a return ? —Yes. 100. What would have been the object of putting in the return ?—We might have got through the main road. 6