SUPREME COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2357, 31 March 1897, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

• ■•■■ • •■■-• — i — -» ■■ ' ■ ■••-■■ -:;,.. , (BY TBLBGRAPH.y HOKITIKA, March 30. At the Supreme Court the whole mornirig was occupied with the examination of Robert Tenant, a fireman or deputy manager m the Brunner mine. He deposed that it was not the duty of the deputies to inspect further than the working faces, and the air way leading to them. He thought that the ventilation of the mines might have been improved. No notice was taken of a report made by one of the men to the overman that there was an accumulation of gas m one of the disused bords. He attributed the disaster to an explosion of gas accelerated by coal dust. Tennant's examination lasted over four hours. Rooney, formerly a miner, was also called. At present there are three theories for the explosion as put forth] by witnesses— a burst of gas from a fall m the river ; an explosion of coal dust from a blown-out shot ; arid an explosion of coal dust from a small gas explosion. The claims received at present amount to £28,000. There are no present indications of an early finish of the case. DUNEDIN, March 30. In Chambers to day application was made to sanction an agreement with John Batger for the purchase of the debts due to the Colonial Bank by the Hon. J. G. Ward. Monday the sth prox. was fixed as the date for the examina Ition of the Colonial Bank liquidators on their own. application m reference to this matter.