c—c

5

along the engine-plane to the mouth of the mine by an endless-wire rope worked by a separate winding gear. The coal is delivered after it is drawn out of the mine through screens and shoots into railway-wagons, which are taken across the bridge over the Grey River, singly, by a horse to the Brunnerton Station, where the trains are made up for Greymouth. The lamp-cabin, beyond which the miners are forbidden to pass on to their working-places each morning without the permission of the officer whose duty it is to see that every part of the mine is safe, is situated in one of the stentons about half-way down the main incline, and a short distance above the air-split. Quality of Coal. 14. The coal in the Brunner Mine is highly bituminous, yielding from 12,000 to 15,000 cubic feet of volatile gases, when distilled at high temperatures. At ordinary temperatures, it does not give off gas when in bulk, nor is it liable to spontaneous combustion. When it is being mined in the solid a little firedamp has occasionally been met with, but never in such amount as to cause any serious accident. None of the witnesses considered that the Brunner Mine was a " fiery mine," although it was necessary at times to take precautionary measures by having thorough ventilation up to the working-faces, and by the use of safety-lamps. All the witnesses were agreed that it could not be considered a "fiery" mine, nor as one in which firedamp was likely to occur suddenly to a dangerous degree. The texture of the coal is compact in the solid, but somewhat tender and friable when mined. It breaks into fine dross, but does not readily form a heavy deposit of light dust. The coal is moderately moist, especially in the deeper parts of the mine, and it was the opinion of the witnesses that the mine could not be classed as a dry and dusty mine. Ventilation. 15. The ventilation of the mine prior to and at the time of the accident appears to have been ample, the amount of air passing in at the time being more than twice that required by the Coalmines Act. Machinery and Stores. 16. The machinery connected with the working of the mine on the 26th March, prior to the accident, was in perfect order and amply sufficient for all requirements. The supply of timber, brattice-cloth, and all other stores appeared to be sufficient in quantity, and good quality. Site and the Extent of the Explosion. 17. All the evidence bearing upon this point has necessarily been obtained since the explosion took place. The examination was made by experts at the earliest possible date after the disaster, and occupied a considerable number of days. The experts comprised the mine-manager (Mr. Bishop), the Inspector of Mines for the district (Mr. Cochrane), and the following gentlemen who were specially appointed by the Government : Mr. Scott (manager, Blackball Mine), Mr. Brown and Mr. Lindop (managers of the Westport Colliery Company's mine), and Mr. Hayes (manager of the Hokonui Coal-mine). All are men of high standing in their profession as mine-managers. Four practical mining experts were also appointed by the miners to inspect the mine—their names being Messrs. Russell, Robinson, Ward, and Daw. Your Commissioners are of opinion that the evidence clearly shows that the disaster commenced in the eastern part of the dip-workings, and extended into the western dip-workings, and also up the main incline, as far as the motor, all other districts of the mine appearing intact and uninjured. The first evidence of the occurrence of the explosion, to those outside of the mine, was the outpouring of a large volume of smoke from the mouth. This smoke must have been driven out against the full force of the inward ventilating current, as the ventilating-fan was never stopped. On this cloud of smoke being noticed by the manager, the fan was at once put to full speed, and, after a few minutes, the air commenced to draw into the mine in its usual course. Mr. Bishop, the company's mine-manager, followed in immediately after the fresh air commenced to be drawn into the mine, but appears to have gone too fast and to have reached the after-damp, as he was overcome and rendered insensible about 4 or 5 chains along the main road level from the mouth of the mine. He was only rescued with difficulty. When the air current was restored it was found that the mine was wrecked up to the motor-cabin at the top of the main incline. Inside of this point there could have been no ventilation after the moment of the explosion, since, owing to all the stenton stoppings in the incline having been destroyed, the inward-air current was passing directly into the return airway at the top of the main incline without circulating through the dip-workings. For three days rescuing parties performed the most laborious and dangerous work of restoring ventilation by means of temporary stopping of brattice-work, fighting their way, foot by foot, down the incline, and carrying fresh air forward, and dislodging the poisonous after-damp. Many of the rescuing party were overcome by the foul air. From the manner in which they suffered it would appear that this after-damp contained an unusual proportion of carbonic-oxide gas, or white-damp, which is by far the most pernicious and deadly product of a coal-mine explosion. By Saturday night following the disaster the mine had been sufficiently cleared to enable the bodies of all the miners killed to be removed, with the exception of one, buried under a fall of stone from the roof, which was not found until the subsequent Monday. The exact locality where each body was found, and a nominal list of those who lost their lives in the accident, will be found embodied in the plan which accompanies this report. Cause of Explosion. 18. Your Commissioners are of opinion, after full consideration of the evidence, that the primary cause of the explosion was a " blown-out shot" in the No. 4 bord of the east dip-workings,