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63. It would not have the smell of ammonia in it? —No, I think not. 64. It was smoke?—Yes. Of course, it is many years ago. 65. Captain Blackburne] It was in 1889?—Yes. 66. Mr. Foster] Of course, when you say it was a cargo of wool and nothing but wool, it might be so termed if there happened to be a little of something else?—l did not notice that. I was not interested in that. I really wanted to see where the fire had started from. 67. You saw nothing to lead you to suppose that it was anything but wool?—No. 68. Captain Blackburne] What chemicals did you use?—Acid and soda — one gallon of chemical to about 40 gallons of water. We have used it this last twenty-five years. 69. It spreads much better than water?—The gases being heavier, it settles right down through the cargo. No fire can live where that is. 70. The Chairman] It chokes the fire?—Yes. 71. Mr. Foster] Would you consider that a fire choked in that way—that the chemical reduces the risk?—Yes. 72. Assuming the cause of the fire was the excessive temperature generated by moisture in the wool, this chemical would not take out the moisture, would it?—Oh, no. 73. If that moisture remained the heating process would still go on?—Yes. 74. But you think that this chemical would carry off that heat or absorb the heat?—Yes, it does in a few minutes. 75. Would you have thought that, having put that fire out with the chemical, there would have been any danger to the ship if she had gone away with the rest of the damp cargo?—Oh, yes, I think there would have been. 76. Whilst it suppresses the" fire, you do not think it finishes the danger?—No. Of course, if you put a few more charges in and leave it for a day or two, the whole lot would have been soaked with the chemical. 77. Is it a vapour that in any way condenses?—lt is a water-and-chemical compound. We have a 60-gallon cylinder which forms the gas, and the gas forces the water out with it. 78. The wool being wet, would you consider that the entire suppression of the fire rendered the rest of the wet wool safe? You say, if you could put a few more charges in: if you put charges in for a month and the cargo had remained as before, still wet, do you think that ship would have been safe to go on ?—No, I do not think so. 7*9. It does not remove the cause? —No. 80. Captain Blackburne] Was the fire deep down in the ship?—Yes, in the second hold, 1 think. 81. In the lower part of the lower hold? —About the centre. 82. They had to take out a lot of cargo?—Y'es; they had to take out a lot of cargo before they got at it. 83. Was the ship burnt at all at the sides?—No. The cargo was simply damaged by smoke reallv. 84. The Chairman] There was no doubt whatever in your mind that the fire had actually taken place in amongst the wool itself? —I am quite certain of that. 85. It had not begun from an extraneous cause and worked down, but had originated from the wool itself? —Yes. There was another vessel after that, the " Netty," but we were not called to attend to her, and there was another vessel with shale on board, and we were not sent down to that either. . . 86. Have you had any experience with regard to the behaviour of wool when it is damp, and has been dumped?—No; I have had no experience of that except in a warehouse where there are woollen goods. 87. That would be mixed with cotton goods, and so forth—half cotton? —-Yes. 88. Mr. Foster] Do you remember the occasion of a big fire at Belfast in the wool-store?— Yes. ■ 89. Were you called there?—Yes. 90. Did you notice any thing there about the burning wool? —No; we were too busy trying to put the fire out, and took no notice of that. 91. Captain Blackburne] Was the other ship you mentioned a wool-ship?—One was shale and the other was mixed wool and flax —we were not called to that. 92. Mr. Foster] Do the dangerous trades in any way come under your supervision in connection with the fire brigade in Christchurch ?—Oh, yes, dangerous goods. 93. Did you ever hear of a .dip-factory down Manchester Street somewhere We are told that when the'place was empty the next tenant found a number of powder-flasks there?—Dipping for dogs ; I think. 94. Only for dogs?—Yes. 95. Not" sheep-dip ?—No. 96. Where was that?—At the back of the Union Shipping Company. 97. Could you find out?—Yes, the owner of that place is in town now, Mr. Dombrane. 98' We we're told they were manufacturing sheep-dip, and that they were using a considerable quantity of powder in connection with it?—Yes. There is a firm of Blackburne and Smith in Manchester Street who are agents for Little's sheep-dip ; but I do not know whether they manufacture anything —they mix it. 99 You think they were, at anv rate, only mixing the dips for dogs?—Yes. I have taken my own dog there sometimes to be dipped. Of course, there may be another firm which Ido not 100 I cannot quite understand the use of gunpowder in the manufacture of a dip when the raw material would be very much cheaper ?—Unless it is a quick way of killing fleas.

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