4

c.—is

acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby declare and appoint that the time at or before which you shall present to me your report aforesaid is "hereby extended to the first day of November, one thousand nine hundred and seven. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable William Lee, Baron Plunket, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House, at Wellington, this second day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven. James McGowan, Minister of Mines. Issued in Executive Council. [l.s.] Alex. Willis, Clerk of the Executive Council.

EEPOET. To His Excellency the Right Honourable William Lee, Baron Plunket, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— The Commission intrusted to us by Your Excellency directed our attention to the following matters in connection with the disaster on the 21st June last in the coal-mine belonging to the Nightcaps Coal Company (Limited), which caused the deaths of three persons working therein : — (1.) To ascertain in what part of the mine the disaster occurred. (2.) To ascertain how the disaster was caused. (3.) To ascertain what lights were used in the different parts of the mine at the time of the disaster. (4.) To ascertain whether any inquiry into the cause of the disaster has taken place : if so, what was the nature of such inquiry; how was the tribunal constituted; what were the verdict and recommendation of such tribunal. (5.) To ascertain to what extent the provisions of " The Coal-mines Act, 1905," and the general rules, the special rules, and additional rules made in accordance with the provisions of that Act, were complied with in the mine, but more especially as regards— (a.) Ventilation and lighting, (b.) The examination of the mine, (c.) The withdrawal of workmen in case of danger, and (d.) The means of escape in case of accident. (6.) To ascertain the nature and character of the working and general management of the mine, and whether the mine was well managed or not. (7.) To determine the competency of the Inspector of Mines, and the efficiency of the inspection of the mine. (8.) To determine the competency of the mine-manager, mine officials, and servants, and the management and working of the mine.