THE ROYAL COMMISSION. Greymouth, May 18.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 20

THE ROYAL COMMISSION. Greymouth, May 18.

Afc the sitting oE the communion to-day to .inquire into the Brunner mine disaster the miners' representa'ives disagreed with the theory of a coal dust explosion, and held the opinion that the explosion started ill the workings further down the dip, which could not be examined owing to the rise of water in the mine. The p ess is now admitted. The evidence 83 far is to tha effect that the miae was well managed, and uo complaints were made. The opiuioa of witnesses is that under tha circumstances there was no hops of saving the men, even had there been a dozen shafts and air ways. Mr Bishop, mine manager, at present being examined. Brunkerton, May 14. The Royal Commission sat at Brunuerton this morning, and had under examination Robert Tennanb, one of the employees in the Bi'unuer mine. He completely upset the tbejty advanced by experts that the exp'osion was caused by a. blown out shot, aud states tbat the shot hole ditcjvered by th« experts was put in by a man some 10 moutha ago. This evidence 1 came rather an a revelation. Gbeymouth, May 15. Theß'>yal Coi»rai«Bion ba?e now practically' completed their taik, and will pcobably l-are by tho Grafton on Monday. 'Xhe weight of evidenoe is in suppott of the theory that a blovrn-out sh>>t ocenrred, i/jniting the coal du^t, though some witueitses said th«y found gas as 3eep as 7ft in the mine. Tho members of the commission will probably visit the Blackball mine to-snwrow, and the Goal Creek seam of COfcl on Sunday.

To-da-y two miner*, rimmed Daw and Ward, fct-ftad emphatically th«ifc after examining the mine Lhey were of opinion that gas was the causo of tho explosion. Some discussion ensued between Judga Ward and Mr Joyce, solicitor for the Brunner widow?, in reference to admitting cerfcaiu evidence. • After argument, his"Horior refused to admit tho same.