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9. Do you think that a good test?— Yes. 10. Have you worked in connection with boilers in any other country? —I have only worked here. 11. And they carry out the hydraulic test here?— Yes, of late years. 12. You think it is an adequate and necessary test? —Yes. I cannot say 1 approve of it, all the same. 13. What would you prefer to it?—lf you have a boiler working to 120 lb., and you double that to 2401b., it is quite possible that that boiler will stand the test, but it might be strained and you would not know anything about it. 14. Do you consider it an adequate test? —Yes. 15. Mr. Dowgray.'] It is the compressors you are working with? —Yes. 16. Do you work by yourself?— Yes. 17. The question has been raised as to a man being allowed to work by himself on the night shift?—l have worked on the night shift, but lam not doing so at present. 18. Do you think there is danger with a man being left by himself? —Most certainly. You have a fan a certain distance from your plant, and anything might happen to the man—he might have a fall, for instance —and he would have to lay there till some one came along. I think it is absurd to ask any man to go on night shift without somebody with him.

Runanga (Public Library). —27th October, 1911. James Newton examined. (No. 55.) 1. The Chairman.] You are Inspector of Mines for this district? —Yes. 2. You have some documents referring to the Point Elizabeth State Colliery to hand to the Commission, I understand ?—Yes : list of accidents, air-measurements, and number of employees in the Point Elizabeth State Colliery. [Exhibit No. 24 put in.] John Arbuckle sworn and examined. (No. 56.) 1. The Chair man. \ What are you? —A miner. 2. Do you hold any office in the union? —I am secretary of the Accident Fund at the present time. Until recently I have been a check inspector, and I was a member of the executive of the State Miners' Union. 3. What matters do you wish to bring before the Commission?—l produce a statement showing the whole of the fatal accidents which have occurred in the mine, and also a list of all accidents which have happened since 1909. There were fifteen accidents, however, which have not been printed. These lists are copied from my books. [Exhibit No. 25 put in.] 4. All the men referred to in these lists have received relief from the fund?— Yes. 5. Have you given the time during which they were on the fund?— No. 6. You swear these are correct extracts from your books? —I do. 7. Do you know the amount of relief paid during that period? —No. 8. Did you come into personal contact with these men? —Yes, since the beginning of 1911. 9. Have you anything further to add? —I would like to say that the sanitation in the State coal-mine, in my opinion, is really disgraceful. 10. What sanitary arrangements have you there?—l consider that a pan should be placed in every incline or small section containing men, and that it should be emptied every night where there is only one shift working. 11. We have had a suggestion made to us that a truck should be used, because there are objections to the use of the pan system. The idea is that a truck, with some ashes or dust and a shovel kept handy, should be used, and that the excreta should be thrown into the truck, which could be run out and emptied?— Well, my opinion is that a pan with a patent cover would be much better. 12. It has been stated that the men stand on the seats and refuse to use them properly where there is a mixed crowd?—-I should much prefer the pan system myself. Ido not think there would be any objection if they were emptied every day. 13. Are there any sanitary arrangements in this mine? —None whatever. The men simply go and use an old bord where it has been worked out. On one occasion when I was check inspecting I visited a place where two men were just starting a pillar. Within 3 ft. there was a place which had been used for that purpose for five or six months. It was like a well that had been sunk and then filled in. I drew the manager's attention to it, and he said it was a pity the men did not cover it up. 14. Do you wish to refer to any other matters?—ln regard to timbering, I consider that onehalf the timber going into the State mine is unequal to the use it is put to. The props are very inferior, and not worth putting up for holding any body of material. 15. What is your objection to them?— They are too small, and split. Then, again, some of the bars are three-cornered, but in lots of cases they are not; also they are not of first-class quality. They do not fit as they should do, and instead of taking the weight when it is put on they swing and push out. I hold that every prop should be collared when used for bars, and then there would be no swinging of timber. 16. How would you remedy that? Would you fix a size of prop or bar to be used? —The bar is immaterial, because sometimes you have to cut it. I consider they ought all to be 8 in. through, and the props about the same.