C—4.

110

[v. TOMASI.

18. Supposing the fan were to stop, how long would it be before it would be noticeable ?—lt may be some time. The deputy has other duties to attend to, and it may be half an hour. 19. Would it be noticeable in the working-faces ? Would the miners themselves notice it ? — Yes, after a while. 20. How long would it be before it was discovered ?—lt may be half an hour or so ; a miner notices it when he fires a shot and finds that things are not so good. 21. As far as your experience goes, what is the general condition of the ventilation in the Stockton Mine ? —lt is very fair just now. We cannot complain at the present time, but at times it has not been so good. 22. What have you to say in regard to the firemen's reports ?—I 'would like to recommend that a board be placed at the mine-mouth, and when the fireman enters the mine he should turn it with the blank side showing, and no man should be allowed to enter the mine with the board so showing. Then when he has examined the mine he should turn the board, and write his report on it. 23. Is there a board there at the present time ? —Yes, but it is not what I am recommending now. 24. Where is it placed ? —At the mine-mouth. 25. You want a board with the report written on one side ? —Yes. 26. What is your recommendation as to baths ? —1 would like to recommend that baths be provided at mine-mouths. 27. How far have the miners to walk to their homes after leaving the mine ?—Some have four miles to go —it varies from one mile to four. 28. Have you any idea of how many miners would use the baths if they were provided ? —I should certainly say they would use them, provided there were sufficient baths. 29. What would you consider a sufficient number of baths —how many men to a bath ?—About four men to a bath. 30. How many men are employed in the mine ?—One hundred and fifty at present. 31. Is that the total number, or the greatest number on one shift ?—The total number ; but they are not all in the mine—there are about a hundred working in the mine. 32. On one shift ?—Yes. 33. How many baths would you suggest should be erected for the convenience of the men who would use them, with a working-roll of a hundred men ?—I would recommend one bath for each four men. 34. Have you any suggestion to offer as to how they should be erected ? —Yes, they should be erected in stalls. 35. Have you plenty of water in this part of the country ?—Yes. 36. And handy to the mine-mouth ? —Yes. 37. What have you to say in regard to accidents ? —I would like to recommend, in the first place, that there should be no places driven more than 12 ft. wide and 10 ft. high. 38. That is in straight driving ? —Yes, in straight driving. 39. What are your average widths and heights now ? —From 18 ft. wide and 16 ft. high. 40. And what is the thickness of the seam ? —That is the thickness at the present time—l 6 ft. ; it varies from 8 ft. to 16 ft. 41. What thickness of coal would you suggest should be left overhead ? —Coal should be left overhead where, it could be done according to the thickness of the seam. If you are working it 14 ft., 15 ft., or 16 ft., you could leave 3 ft. or 4 ft. of coal; but when the coal is only 10 ft. thick you could not leave much. 42. Supposing your seam were 12 ft. thick ? —lf it were hard coal you could leave 2 ft. ; but it would be better to go right to the roof in that case. 43. You want a 10 ft. place ; but you say that if there is 12 ft. of coal it is not safe to leave tht 2 ft. ? —I would recommend that the place be driven 9 ft., and that 3 ft. be left on. You would not need to go so high. 44. And what about pillars ? —I would suggest that all pillars be split, the splits not to be more than 12 ft. wide. 45. And as to check inspectors ? —I would like to recommend that in cases where they find anything unsafe or an insufficiency of air, if their report is neglected and the matter not put right, they should be allowed to stop the place and prosecute the manager. 46. What experience, as a rule, have check inspectors in determining bad conditions ? You ask that they should have power to stop a place and prosecute '? —Well, experienced miners are appointed for the purpose. 47. Are you not asking for a great deal of power in making this recommendation ?—lf during their examinations they find only, say,.so ft. or 100 ft. of air, and they ask for 150 ft. to be put in, and it is not done, the inspectors should be able to prosecute. 48. Do you not think that a check inspector should pass some examination to prove his qualifications for determining such matters ? —Well, he has the instrument with him. 49. But there is no guarantee that he would understand the reading of the instrument. Are you not asking for an extended power ? Should it not be necessary for him to submit to examination on the subject of mine-gases, ventilation, and generally so as to prove his qualifications I — J would recommend that no man should be allowed to be a check inspector unless he was a practical man and had been in the mine for a number of years, but without the examination. Further, that they should be paid by the Government. 50. In the event of a check inspector, under your suggestion, talcing proceedings and failing, would you make him liable for costs ? Supposing he stopped a mine and could not establish his case—if, for instance, upon investigation it was found that the air was adequate —-who is to bear the loss ?—I should certainly say that 1 would not blame him, because if he is ap experienced man surely there must be something the matter,