THE BRUNNER DISASTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 24

THE BRUNNER DISASTER.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION. Greymouth, May 8. . The Royal Commis«io^ to inquire into the Kplo^ion at the Bruuner mine sat to-day. Tbe iheT-y set up by the witnesses examined —Messrs Coehnme (inspector of miuei) and Lindop — was that a blow-out had occurred, einitlng coal dost. The press -were prohibited from- reporttag, though the public were allowed in the coozt. 1 MEETING* OF THBLOCAL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Brunner relief fond local committee was held in the City C< unctl Chambers on Monday afternoon, »Dd attended by Mt W. Barron (who was voted to the cbair), tho Hon. W. D. Stewart, M.L 0., Me-sri. G l?enwiok, G. L. Denniston, W. Hutchison M.H R., w?d T. S. Grab*m (hon. eecretary) _ Mr G bah am read communications from the ?ccal committees in Tiintirn, Greynooath, aud Auckland respecting the proposed confsrence of delogatea, and alao~read a telegram sent to the Premier on the 7th inafc. to the following tffert :—: — Mityors in the various centres have agreed to tbe follow iug n solution carried here on the 10th April : "That in the opinion of the cornruittee-a meeting of representatives of the various committees throughout the colany be beld in Wellington at the time of the Municipal Conference, there to appoint trustees for the Brunner fund tmd adopt un equitable plan of distribution." Belying on this resolution and the replies from all concerned and in charge of funds, cannot, sco use of adopting suggestion in your circular. Prefer leaving decision in hands of Municipal Conference, who will represent contributors in all localities, besides expanse of kending special dulegatea would meaavsenious.auilay of the funds. Xo this the Premier had replied : It was not intended, nor do L think it right, to use any ofc the fundß for the purpose of defraying expentes of dßlrgAtesi but I will place your communication before the conference. I ani of. opinion it will be tco late to wait until the llunicipul Conference takes place. Mr Fbnwick sugxestod that the oonamittee BliCHild pass a resolution adhering, to tbe opinion they had expressed in.their previous resolution which had been agreed to by a considerable number of bodies. Mr Graham: By all the mayors but the Weilinitton one. ' Mr Fjknwick said the conferee cc this week could not be a reprceenUti ye meeting, but would be a farce in everj w*y He moved — "In the opinion of tbis committee it is desirable to adhere to the resolution passed on the IQfch April — viz., to leave tha plan of distribution of tne fund to tha Municipal Conference •hicb.i* t.» meet in Wellington in July." Thß Hou. W. D. Stbwakt seconded the morion. It was, he said, very important that fche conference should be a. representative one, because there were contributors in all parts of the colony. It tras equally important that the RVpointment of trustees should be very carefully gone about, and also that the scheme of difuibution shoald" be very carefully considered. All these were questiona the tettlnment of which would iuvolvesome little time. He further pointed out that a special conference this or next month would involve expense which, could not tie avoided, and he thought tho proper couree would ba for the contributors to avail' themselves of the Municipal Conference, which would be held in July. ' Mr Hdichison questioned the aconraoy of the statement tbat all the mayors had agreed to Che recommendation of the committee, saying tbat the Mayor of Chrutohurob and fifr Stead had been appointed delegates to this week's \ betting. The resolution was adapted unanimously, T»ith the addition : " And that the Premier be - telegraphed to-tnis effect, and informing him that other contributing centres approve of this ; and also stating that the committee presume that the meeting convened by him for next Thursday is not to be held, and asking a reply." Mr Fenwick observed that,. arising out of that, yitu, the question as to the ultimata disposition of tile funds. If the conference was to be held thii week, he Buppo^ed the committee would be represented by a delegate, and that deleg»te require to he instructed. The committee had not discussed the question of how tbe funds were to be administered, or whether the whole were to be divided fox the benefit of the •uffe'rerfl, or, if not, whether the balance was to be formed into a general fund. The time had arrived when tha committee should consider that question. If they were going to. instruct their delegate they had no time to spare. Mr Dknniston, ao treasurer of tho local fond, reported tbat the amount collected to date was £2645 2» 3d. Of that £100 had been rsnitted to Brunner, and there was £2500 on fixed, deposit in the B*nk of New Zealand. at different dates. The expenses ot collecting bad been £7, and there was a balance in the bank of' £3B <2* 3d. Mr Geaham supplemented Mr Denaiaton's itatstuent by. s&ying that he understood that £100 would ba forthcoming from the Clutba 'flood fuud. Mr Fbnwxck moved — •' That a special meeting of tha committee. b« called, for Wednesday to cousider the reply from the Prrmier, and, if neceatary, fot the purpose- of taking, into considenwtion> th« appointment of a permanent trustee or trustees to administer the fund, and that method in which the, distribution of the fund shall be carried out;" Mr Hutchison seconded the- motion, which eras carried.