C—6

10

Mr. Beare, representing the Grey Valley Coal Company, put in ten books of underviewers' reports on the Brunnerton Mine. Mr. Neil Dundonald Cochrane, Inspector of Mines for the Westland, Nelson, and Marlborough Districts, and Mr. Alfred Benjamin Lindop, mining manager of the Westport Colliery Company, were sworn and examined. Their evidence was taken down. The Commission adjourned at 4 p.m. to the next day.

Saturday, 9th May, 1896. The Commission met at 9.45 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The Commissioners proceeded to Brunnerton by the 9.45 a.m. train by arrangement, and spent the morning in making an inspection of the Brunner Mine. The Commissioners returned to Greymouth at 3.30 p.m., and adjourned until Monday, the 11th May, at 10 a.m.

Monday, 11th May, 1896. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. Mr. A. R. Guinness appeared for the Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Coal Company (Limited), and Mr. Beare for the manager of the Brunner Mine, Mr. Bishop. The Chairman announced that the Commission had decided to allow the Press to be present at the proceedings, and to report the same, the necessity for the resolution formerly arrived at having passed away. Mr. A. B, Lindop, mining manager of the Westport Colliery Company, was recalled, and gave further evidence. Mr. H. W. Young, Authorised Surveyor, produced a plan of the Brunner Mine, and gave evidence. Mr. Joseph Scott, mine-manager of the Black Ball Company, and Mr. John Hayes, mining engineer and manager of the Hokonui Railway and Coal Company, were also sworn and examined. The evidence of these witnesses was taken down. The Commission adjourned at ten minutes past 4 o'clock until 10 the following morning.

Tuesday, 12th May, 1896. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. Mr. Robert Russell, of Brunnerton, Mr. Henry Aldborough Stratford, Warden and Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. Thomas Robinson, Taylorville, and Mr. James Bishop, mining manager of the Greymouth and Point Elizabeth Coal Company, were sworn and gave evidence, which was taken down. The Commission adjourned at 4 o'clock until 10 the following morning.

Wednesday, 13th May, 1896. The Commission met pursuant to the adjournment. Present: All the Commissioners. Mr. James Bishop resumed his evidence, which was taken down. Mr. Thomas Brown, district manager of the Coalbrookdale and Granity Mines, Westport, and Henry Andrew Gordon, Inspecting Engineer of the Mines Department, and Inspector McGovern, Inspector of Police, were sworn and examined. Their evidence was taken down. The Chairman announced that the next sitting would be held at Brunnerton, at 10 a.m. the following day. The Commission adjourned at 9.30 p.m.

Thursday, 14th May, 1896. The Commission met at Brunnerton at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. Robert Tennent, Constable Beattie, William Dunn, and Robert Armstrong were sworn and examined, and the evidence was taken down. The Commission adjourned at ten minutes to 5 o'clock, and returned to Greymouth.

Friday, 15th May, 1896. The Commission met at Brunnerton at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. Robert Barnett, ganger on the Brunner Railway-line, James Ward, William Daw, William Sheard, James Rooney, Joseph Heard, Edward Moore, George Geoghegan, John Mosely, miners, John Thompson, Henry Bainbridge, engineers in charge of the machinery of the Brunner Mine' were sworn and examined.