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trouble to a large extent is caused by the wool which comes from the farmers at the side stations, where there are no goods-sheds and no conveniences for loading and protecting the wool. I have seen wool in the Harbour Board's sheds which has been wet—no doubt, by the tarpaulins not meeting, and allowing of a drip on to the bales. If it is detected I believe the officials send it to be dried. 146. Have you any reason to believe that the Harbour Board's officials exercise any judgment as to the amount of water which would be contained in any bale of wool? I assume they would not deal with it in an offhand way? —If they thing there is any risk they send it to be scoured. Of course, wool might be wet through the drip from the tarpaulin, and there be no mark left to show that it has been wet, yet the wool inside the bale will be wet. Might I make a suggestion to the Commission? 147. The Chairman] Yes?—lf you can get a bale of, say, fifty or sixty sheep shorn—pretty fine-woolled sheep, shorn damp—and get a bale of flax, and dump the two together. It would require to be observed, but I think it would show you to what extent you could go with this combination. 148. Mr. Foster] Do I understand you to say that the wool and flax should be in contact in the one bale mixed up?—No. Have, say, the damp wool in an ordinary bale and another bale of flax—uncovered flax —and dump them both together. It might be possible to arrive at some conclusions in this way. Then the chemists might be able to give you some information on that point also. From my point of view, as a layman, I have found that there is a good deal of sulphur in wool; there is also lime, and I remember reading of an experiment in the distillation of flannel in which they got streams of sulphuretted hydrogen from the flannel—ordinary flannel without any dye in it. 149. Captain Blackburne] Dr. Maclaurin stated that the bacteria from the vegetable matter started fermentation but not sufficient to cause combustion, although it would help some other elements in heating?—From what I have read on the subject, I think there are sufficient gases generated in the wool itself when damp to enable it to combust. 150. Do you think there is greater risk in a dumped bale than in an undumped bale?—l should not say so. As I said before, the wool which I saw heated was simply thrown into a corner. 151. Mr. Foster] Is it not a fact that gases may be extracted from almost any material, and in a good many cases inflammable gases ?—I have read that it is a fact that no textile article has so many component parts as wool. I think the comparison between cotton and wool is 56 items in cotton and 270 in wool. Mr. Foster: I think the question of gases is pretty clearly demonstrated even in the case of a candle immediately after being extinguished. If a lighted match is held over the wick the gas is immediately observed. William Bendall sworn and examined. (No. 14.) 152. The Chairman] What is your name?—William Bendall. 153. What are you, captain?—l am a master mariner, but of late years I have been carrying on the occupation of marine surveyor to the Underwriters' Association and surveyor to Lloyd's Register. 154. You understand the purpose for which we have asked you to attend here f —Yes. 155. We shall be very glad to get the results of your experience in this matter? —I do not know that I am prepared" to make any particular statement. I can only say that my duties as surveyor to the underwriters were particularly in regard to the condition of wool, looking after wool and flax and other cargoes susceptible to damage, both inward and outward cargo; but I always paid great attention to wool, and specially to what they call fellmongered wool and also coastwise wool, and of late years we have had a good deal of trouble with wool conveyed by rail— fresh-water-damaged and rain-damaged. 156. Captain Blackburne] What kind have you had the most trouble with?—The fellmongered wool I have considered the most serious to deal with. 157. Have you ever found any that is almost on the point of ignition ?—Oh, yes, on many occasions—that "is to say, they were charred in the centre and black, and it might be supposed from the condition they were in that if that process had continued they would have taken fire 158. When you examined a bale, has it appeared that the fire was in the centre of the bale first or on the outside?—Well, generally, in fellmongered wool it has been inside. 159 Do you know how long it would take for damp wool to heat?—Well, it depends upon the degree of moisture, I suppose; but if the bales are only slightly damp I think it would take a week or a fortnight to develop. For that reason I had steel spikes made to insert into the bales— about 18 in or 2ft long. I had more spiked instruments for that purpose before with a thermometer inserted with a steel point, but they would not stand the pressure of inserting them into PreSS 160. Could you insert steel spikes into a dumped bale?—Yes, that is why I got them in preference to the others. . t . 161. Do you think there is more danger in dumped bales than in other bales!—What, in carrying at sea? 162. More danger of fire? —I cannot say that there would be. _ 163 In a previous inquiry I think you mentioned the case of wool which was discharged in London and it broke into flame?—l have not the record of it. I heard of it that the wool was in that condition that when exposed to the air it became a blaze as it was being put over the side into the lighter,