C—lB

1907. NEW ZEALAND.

NIGHTCAPS COAL-MINE DISASTER (REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE) ON THE 21st JUNE, 1907.

Laid on the Table of both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave. COMMISSION. Plunket, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to William Reeve Haselden, Esquire, of Wellington, District Judge; Huntly John Harry Eliott, Esquire, of Hutt; Henry Andrew Gordon, Esquire, of Auckland, Mining Engineer; and Alexander Forbes, Esquire, of Kaitangata, Secretary to the Otago Coal-miners' Union of Workers : Greeting. Whereas a disaster occurred at the coal-mine at Nightcaps, known as the Nightcaps Colliery, the property of the Nightcaps Coal Company (Limited), on the twenty-first day of June last, which caused the deaths of three persons working therein : And whereas it is expedient that a Commission should be issued for the purpose of inquiring into the cause of the said disaster, and into the working of the existing law in respect to the prevention of such disasters, and for the other purposes hereinafter mentioned : Now, therefore, know ye that I, William Lee, Baron Plunket, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, reposing trust and confidence in your knowledge, integrity, and ability, and acting by the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, do hereby, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by " The Commissioners Act, 1903," and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, constitute and appoint you, the said William Reeve Haselden, Huntly John Harry Eliott, Henry Andrew Gordon, and Alexander Forbes, to be a Commission for the purpose of making inquiry into the matters herein-

I—C. 13.