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19. How many means of exit are there ? —At the present time the men have a very poor chance of getting out if an accident happens. There is only the main dip for them to go up, and all the other workings are on the high side of us, and there is no other way to get out. If there was a break in of water you would be jammed there. 20. What about the working-places ?—The places that have been worked are above our level, and are under the lake, and if anything happens they would flood us. There is a good thickness of coal. 21. What is the thickness of the roof?—We are supposed to leave 9 ft. of the roof. 22. Would the reason for leaving off work be because the water might come through?— No. 23. The Extended is driven under the Waikato River?— Yes. 24. Have they been leaving the mine pretty clear of slack ?—There is none left in. 25. How are you paid ?—2s. a ton down there. 26. What would that enable you to make ?—We average about 9s. a day with the yardage and the coal. 27. What is the highest rate you have made?—l have made lis., but the average is 9s. 28. lis. a day is the highest you have ever made?— Yes ; about the highest. 29. How long do you say you have been here ?—Sixteen years in the district. 30. Have you worked in any other mine ? —Yes ? but it was a good while ago. 31. But in any other district?—l worked on the West Coast a bit, on Denniston Hill. I left Denniston Hill to come here. I have worked in mines in the Old Country since I was eight years of age. 32. Is there anything you think requires alteration in the matter of working?—l think it would be a very good plan to drive a place back from where we are working at present for purposes of escape. 33. Mr. Lomas.} Is it not wet where you are working?— Yes. 34. Do you get anything extra for water?—We get 2s. a day for pumping. 35. Do you think the men deserve more for working in a wet heading ? —Yes. 36. That is usual, is it not ?—Yes. 37. Are you acquainted with the other mines here ?—I would rather not speak of them, because it is long since I worked at them. 38. Is it customary to have one or two drop-sheets some yards away from each other on the working faces? —I do not think you will find many drop-sheets here at all. 39. In this mine where the pumps are used, is the engine always down at the bottom of the workings to force the water up—take Kimihia ?—Yes. 40. Supposing a serious fall happened and blocked up that space, would it be possible, owing to the steam-pipes, for the men to get out alive? —I do not think they would get out alive. 41. Do you think that is the reason why there should be a proper traveliing-way ?—Yes. 42. That place is really an intake ?—Yes. 43. Should the stentons between the main dip, where the rope goes down, and the travellingroad always be open ?—Yes. 44. At present in this place is the return air-road always parallel with the main dip ? —Yes. 45. What tools do the men have to find? —Picks, boring-machines, and everything that is there. 46. Do you know anything about the depth of the lake ? —No. 47. Do the miners themselves regularly inspect the mine, as provided by the Coal-mines Act? —They have since the union was formed here. 48. Every month ?—No, it is only every three months. 49. Do you know of any place in any of the mines where the quantity of air travelling in the district is registered on a board—the number of feet ? —No. 50. Do you know of any slack coal getting on fire ? —Yes, on the other side of the river. I think it was due to the slack coal. 51. Do you consider the catches on the cages are a good and safe thing?— Yes. 52. Have you ever heard of a cage being stuck in the mine by a sudden reverse of the engine ? —No ; but I have seen them tested, and they acted very well. 53. What did they test them with ? —With a full skip in the cage. 54. Mr. Proud.] Do you receive any consideration for wet working ?—Yes, Is. 6d. a yard extra. 55. Do you often see the Government Inspector ?—Yes, I think pretty well every three months. 56. Do you think that is sufficient ?—Yes, I should say so, so far as I know. David Molesworth, Miner, examined. 1. The Chairman.] In which mine are you engaged?—ln Ralph's at present. 2. How long have you been working there?—l have been working in the property for many years, but in this mine about five years. 3. Are you satisfied that the mine is thoroughly inspected each morning before the men are allowed to go in ? —I am. 4. Do you think the work of inspection is done in a thorough way ? —I think so. 5. Do you think that every necessary precaution is taken to insure the safety of the workmen ?—I do at present. I mean, that all precautions are duly taken since the existence of the union. 6. The mine was shut down for five years, was it not ? —Yes. 7. Did you start to work when it was resumed?—No; I was here in the district working at the Extended when Ralph's Mine first started. 9—C. 4.