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26. At what time did you get to the mine ? —lt would take me about an hour to get there. It would be about 2 o'clock. 27. What did you do when you got there ?—I consulted with Mclndoe as a miner about sealing or bratticing the intakes and outlets of the mine, which was done. I considered that in the absence of a certificated manager or the Inspector of Mines it was not our duty to go into the mine if we saw the danger from the outside. 28. You sealed and bratticed off the entrances to the mine—and then ? —I discovered that Mr. Tennent had been communicated with, and waited until he came out. 29. You did nothing more until Mr. Tennent came out ? —No. 30. When did Mr. Tennent come out ? —I should say it would be between half-past 7 and 8 o'clock that night. He was with Mr. Broome at Corby's when I saw him. 31. What was done then? —Mr. Tennent visited the works, lifted the bratticing, and went inside the mine. 32. How far?—l could not say. Ido not remember being with him inside the mine that night. 33. The Chairman.] Did he go alone?—As far as I know, he did. 34. How long was he there ?—I could not tell. 35. Mr. Harden.] And when he came out what did he do ?—He sealed the mine up again. I did not ask him what he was going to do. I went home, and Ido not know where Mr. Tennent went to. 36. The Chairman.] What time was it when you parted with Mr. Tennent? —Between 9 and 10 o'clock, I should say. Mr. Tennent and Mr. Dixon came on Monday to the works as soon as the train came in—about 9 o'clock. 37. Mr. Harden.] When did you go to the mine again ? —About 8 o'clock ; I was in attendance at the works. 38. The Chairman.] Where did Mr. Tennent and Mr. Dixon come from ? —Mr. Dixon came from Granity, I believe. Mr. Tennent was stopping in the district. When Mr. Tennent came up he and Mr. Dixon consulted and went inside the mine. The men there had not any work to do, because there were no commands given. It was decided on Monday to erect the fan. That was communicated to me by Mr. Dixon. 39. Did they seal the mine ?—They sealed the mine as far as possible by timber and bratticing until the fan was erected. They tried to shut out the air. 40. Do you consider it was securely closed in when you left ?—Yes, to stop the intake of air. 41. Nothing was done until the fan was erected? —Not inside the mine. 42. When was the fan ready for work ?—I think it Was Friday following, the 2nd February. 43. When did Mr. Tennent and Mr. Dixon leave ?—Messrs. Dixon and Tennent were there all Monday. Ido not remember Mr. Dixon being there on the Tuesday, but he may have been. Mr. Tennent had to go, as I understood, to Eeefton. 44. When did he leave ? —On Monday, I presume. It might have been by the evening train. 45. The Chairman.] Who was in charge of the works when they left ?—Mr. Dixon was in charge. 46. Mr. Harden.} Did he leave any one in charge ?—He left Mr. Mumm in charge of the fan. 47. The Chairman.] Who was in charge of the mine ? —No one was in charge of the mine that I know of. Mr. Dixon was in charge although he was absent. 48. Mr. Harden.] Who was in charge of the mine before the fire ? —I do not know who was in charge after the 25th January. 49. Was M r - Eoland Broome in charge, do you know ?—Only from hearsay. On Monday Mr. Dixon said he was manager, and that he would have his instructions obeyed. He put Mr. Mumm in charge of the fan, but not of the mine. 50. Do you remember when Mr. Dixon returned ? —On the Wednesday. 51. At what time ?—I do not remember whether it was in the morning or in the evening. 52. Did he stay then until the fan was ready?— Yes. 53. The Chairman.} What were you doing on the Tuesday ? —I would be helping Mr. Mumm to get men. 54. What was your position? — Mr. Bayfeild appointed me as deputy on the Sunday by telephone. 55. Mr. Lomas.] You were really in charge of the works in the absence of the manager ?—Yes ; but there was no work to be put in charge of so far as the mine was concerned. 56. Mr. Harden.] Was any one in charge supposing any of the stoppings got loose ? —I believe I would be, but I had no instructions to do so. Would have wired Dixon any change, who could reach the mine in an hour. 57. What were you doing between Monday and Wednesday?— Assisting at the erection of the fan and keeping the men's time. 58. How many men were employed?— About twenty. 59. Did you get the men ?—I went to the places for the men and put them on the different shifts. 60. The Chairman.] And gave them orders ?—Yes, receiving my instructions from Mr. Dixon. 61. Mr. Harden.] When ihe fan was erected what was done? You said you thought the fan was erected on Friday ?—Mr. Dixon got an exploring party to enter the mine on the Friday. He was a stranger to the men, and asked me to pick out four or five practical men to accompany him in. The men's names appear in his report. Before he went in he asked me to take stock of the chalk-mark he had put in on a previous occasion, and when I got in I found the mark at the middle curve, about 13 chains in. He put the mark in on the Monday, I believe.