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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 39

Lord Londonderry mot a largo gathering of Rainton colliers recently to explain the circumstances which have led him to decide to nivc up the working of tho Rainton pits. He stated that tho pits had been losing largi sums of money lor I.lm past three years, anc read a statement of the receipts and expondi tui'e during 1895, which showed a total los3 O .k 15,040, or Is lid per ton of coal sold. Ir (887 the wages cost was 4s s'ju per ton, wliih last year it v.m fls lid per ton. At an inquest hold by the Westminste coroner at l'imiico, 12 out of the 14 juryme who enquired into the dc-at!) of a man name Robinson were named “ Smith. ’ Tlioreadin of tho jury list by tho coroner’s office occasioned much amusement. By a cui'ioc coincidence ono of the witnesses who gav evidence was called “ Smith.”