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186. Yes ? —That might be very necessary where there is much coal-dust. Independent of that, in the West Coast mines I think the danger could be done away with by the appointment of a man to see that every shot is made properly ready before'it is fired. 187. Do you think it would do any good to water the place around where the shot is fired? —It might be a good thing if it was very dusty. 188. In respect to blasting, what is the practice in your mine ? —Prior to the explosion occurring in our mine all the men fired their own shots, but since the accident at Brunner the deputies fire them. There is a notice posted up informing the men what the Company intend to do, and also calling attention to clause 50 of the special rules with regard to tamping with clay instead of with coal-dust. 189. How do the men get their powder from you ? —They buy it from the local storekeepers. 190. What quantities do they take in?—An ordinary quantity, in a tin, sufficient for a day's work—a 41b. tin. 191. Do you know where they store that powder, or if they store it all?— Outside ? 192. Yes? —I could not say definitely. I think that on going out at night they leave their can with the local storekeeper, who goes to the magazine and fills the tin ; but whether he leaves the tin where they can take it for themselves I do not know. 193. You only know they take that quantity into the mine?— Yes; we have nothing to do with that portion of the work so long as they take the tin in. 194. I suppose you have read something about the late Commission which sat in England. Previous to this coming out, was it generally known that coal-dust is highly explosive ?—lt has been known for a considerable time that it was inflammable; but a few seemed to have an idea until recently that it must be mixed with a certain amount of firedamp before it would explode. It has been proved now that it is unnecessary, as pure coal-dust will explode by itself. 195. The men having been at work for an hour and a half before the explosion, would not that appear as though the air had been good when they went in ?—I believe if there had been any gas in the mine in any face some workman would have touched it long before. 196. So that you would have supposed that the mine would be all right up to the time of the explosion ?—I should say so. 197. And that any flame would have been reported to the fireman?—l imagine he would examine every face as usual. 198. And had allowed the men to go in to work ?—That was sufficient evidence that the places had been examined and found free from gas. 199. Does the fireman usually observe the rule, that he has to examine all the places before the men enter ?—Yes ; and meets the men before they go in to the places. That is the rule in our mine. 200. Do they observe it ?—Yes, it is always observed so far as I myself am concerned. 201. Mr. Beare.] As a manager yourself, after having thoroughly examined the Brunner Mine, in your opinion was the mine well managed in every way?— Yes. 202. Did you have any fault to find?— None that I could see. It is simply following out the usual style of coal-mining which is adopted throughout. 203. You were quite satisfied with the ventilation ?—With that which was examined. 204. Did you know anything about the working stores kept in the mine ?—No. 205. There was plenty of brattice-cloth and timber ?—Yes. We proved that by the amount we used in getting down the main dip. 206. You saw nothing in your examination that you could find fault with as a manager of experience ?—No fault whatever. 207. Supposing the law in New Zealand had been to compel the watering of dry and dusty mines, would you, as a manager, have watered the Brunner Mine ? —I do not think so, on account of the appearance of the dip where water seemed to be thoroughly plentiful. 208. Your opinion is that the Brunner Mine is not a dry and dusty mine ? —No, and not a fiery mine. I could not see any gas. 209. Is it of similar character to your mine?—lt is worked pretty much the same, only we worked out to the rise, which is going towards the top. The principle is just the same. 210. When you say you have given instructions to your deputy or fireman to fire the shots, I take it there is some danger of explosion in your mine ? —We take it as a precaution. 211. In case of a blown-out shot?— Yes. 212. You do not water your mine now ?—No. 213. Coming to the scene of the explosion, who was present when this blown-out shot theory was first discovered?—l do not know. I was not in that day. I went in the next day. 214. You saw the locality and examined it thoroughly ?—Yes. 215. I think the theory is that the shot was blown out through the action of some miner who was anxious to get coal readily ? —Yes. 216. You would agree with that theory?— Yes. 217. It has been stated before the Commission that the probability was that the shot must have been put in by a miner who was anxious to get the coal easily ? —I would agree to that. 218. Would you, as an expert, say that the shot had been put in under proper management and supervision ?—ln that particular place ? 219. Yes?—No, I should not. 220. Would you say it is quite the contrary ?—Equivalent to that. 221. There is no under-cutting, and everything about the shot is contrary to scientific principles ?—Yes. 222. Did you notice particularly the effects with reference to the resultant gas produced by the explosion?— Yes ; when I got into the mine, and got to the top of the dip, as soon as I saw the fumes coming up the dip, I made up my mind that coal-dust was the chief factor in it.