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put in a dam to stop the water from coming through, which left me to infer that it was their intention to take up water to put the fire out. 7. The Chairman.] How far from the fire did you put the dam across the drive ? —About a chain. The other men were much nearer. 8. When the fire flamed up after the fan was put on, if the draught had been taken off, would there have been any danger to the men bratticing off the drives in the main tunnel?'—Not a bit. There was nothing to stop men working there unless the air was made to go in one particular direction. With the appliances in use then there was no possible danger to the men. In the first instance, when we went into the mine, we went a considerable distance past where the fire was located. There was no effect except the warmth of the fire in the air. 9. Mr. Corby.] If Mr. Dixon had continued the work at the time he knocked off, would there have been any difficulty in the men saving the plant along the main tunnel?—l have no hesitation in saying that a considerable amount of property would have been saved. 10. Would there have been no danger to the men in doing so ? —Not the least. 11. Did Mr. Dixon consider the fire was too great to try and put it out? —I never heard him say anything. 12. You knew it could be stopped off the main road with safety to the men, and that the plant could have been saved if he had stayed ?—Yes, at that time. 13. Did you form any opinion from the action taken then that Mr. Dixon did not want to put the fire out, and that there was some ulterior motive for delay in suppressing the fire ?—I would be rather loth to believe it of the gentleman in charge; but still, owing to the laxity of duty shown, 1 am inclined to believe there was something at the back of it. 14. Mr. Stewart.] You mean owing to the want of energy displayed?— Yes. 15. Mr. Lomas.] Where was the fire when you saw it?—lt seemed to me about the centre of the heading. 16. It was not burning against the pillars at all ? —No. 17. You said you erected a dam with slack : where was that ? —About three-quarters of a chain into the heading where the fire was located. 18. Was there much slack there ? —I could have gathered about half a dozen boxes if I had chosen, lying about the road. 19. What was it doing there ?—lt was proposed to use it for packing the road. 20. Do you know whether there was any slack lying about where the fire was? —I could not get close enough to see. 21. Did you ever see a fire burning in the main heading?— No. I worked at the beginning of the Cardiff Mine when it was not so big as it is, so far as the opening-up is concerned. 22. Did you see any fire at the main heading at all at that time or any subsequent time?— No. The last time I passed through was three or four days before the fire was discovered. 23. Were you in this particular part where the fire was discovered ?—No. I passed within 2 chains of where the fire was discovered. 24. Was there much of a current of air?— Yes, there was a good air-current. 25. Mr. Proud.] How long was it from the time you went through the mine until you saw this fire ?—I was in on the Wednesday previous. I first saw the fire on the Friday after the 28th. 26. Do you think that by carrying buckets of water you could have extinguished the fire at that time ? —lt looked to me as if a couple of buckets would have extinguished it; but still one did not know the extent it might be beyond that. 27. Was the air good enough ?—Yes, the air was good. 28. Mr. Lomas.] Do you think you could have got to the fire yourself ?—I think so; but one is rather chary about doing that sort of thing when others are in charge. 29. If you had taken the brattice nearer to the fire could you have got in ?—I would have been rather more inclined to go near the fire without the brattice. It blew out into flame as it was. Mr. Dixon then ordered all the brattice to be torn out. 30. Mr. Proud.] If you had had a long rake could you have raked the fire out ?—That I could not tell, as I was so far behind. The other men putting up the brattice worked much nearer, and I should think would be about half a chain from it. I took it that the water was intended to be thrown on the fire. 31. You never saw any indication of the fire smouldering for some time ? —No; they were working through all the broken workings up that way, and smoke would be coming from the surface. 32. Did you notice any timber at the time it was burning?— No. 33. Had you been up there before ? —Not up to that distance. Mr. Mitchell or Mr. Dixon, when they located the fire, passed the remark that they were very lucky in finding it so soon. Which of the two said that I could not say. They went up much closer to have a look at the tire. Peter Martin re-examined. 1. The Chairman.] Was the pipe in the dam put under the bottom log?— Yes, through the bottom log. First the bottom log was put in; then we scooped out the top of the bottom log and put the pipe in. 2. What size was the bottom log ?—lt would be Bor9 by 12. 3. What size was the pipe?— What we call a 6 in. cast-iron pipe. 4. Mr. Corby.] You heard Mr. Tennent say that he did not want you to be employed in building the dam ?—Yes. 5. How was it, then, that he gave you a job in caulking it again?—l do not know. My opinion is that he had a "set" on me from the day he arrived at the Cardiff fire, and he gave me an answer that night that I took exception to.