T. H. EASTEBFIELD.

49

H.—29.

203. Can you conceive that possible—that it could have charred? Might there not have been some other process—decomposition—which would show the wool as if it had been charred There might be, but I should not like to say the thing did not happen, because the further you go inside the less chance there is for the heat to escape. We never see a small heap of coal heat —it is always in the centre, and when they take a heap apart they find when getting near the centre it is so hot that it may burst into flame. 204. This did not burst into flame. I assume the condition was one of incandescence without flame?—Of course, wool flames with great difficulty. 205. I suppose that is quite a matter of temperature?—Yes. 206. But I asked particularly if the wool was charred. The impression 1 had was that unless there was an access of air, charring would not go on, would it?—Possibly sufficient air would be able to get through in a case of that kind. 207. I mean a dumped bale of wool—wool that had been subjected to a pressure of 90 tons in the hydraulic press?—lt seems surprising that sufficient oxygen should get inside. 208. If sufficient oxygen got inside, would it not extend to the outside?—The outside is cooling away more rapidly. The outside air tends to keep the temperature down, thus preventing it getting up to the point at which actual incandescence can occur. 209. In cases of wool having actually burst into flame, it has been stated that the outside has first of all become ignited?—That is, the first that was seen. 210. But would j'ou not have expected that if it would char inside it would also have flamed up?—No. The only thing that .seems against it is the difficulty in getting sufficient oxygen inside, and thus I come back to my coal-heap ; it is only in the centre that it gets hot; it gets practically red-hot, and is consuming any small amount of oxygen that manages to find its way there. That bears out the statement you made. Then, of course, it spreads from there until finally the whole thing goes. 211. I have had experience of haystacks, but from what I know the fire has begun about twothirds of the way up—the first indication of flame?—Yes? Thomas Cummings sworn and examined. (No. 19.) 212. The Chairman] What is your name?— Thomas Cummings. 213. What are you?—l am in the employ of the Government, 214. Where?—ln Wanganui. 215. As what?—l am Clerk to the Awatea Maori Land Board. 216. I understand that you have some invention by which you think you could enlighten the Commission as to ascertaining the heat of wool or other cargoes on board ship ?—That is so. 217. Would you like to explain it to us?—Yes. I will briefly explain what the purpose is, but I would prefer to give a practical demonstration —I would prefer to put my instrument into a dumped bale of wool. 218. What is the nature of the instrument?—lt is a small steel tube, very thin, with a very sharp-pointed end. It is so fragile that it would not be possible to force it into a dumped bale of wool; but to get over that difficulty I have put a steel rod down the centre, and the pressure is on the steel rod and on the sharp point. Of course, that carries the steel tube down. 219. Do you mean to say that this rod is inside or outside?—lnside the small tube. [Witness explained his invention by means of a pen.] I might say that the Secretary of the Harbour Board has offered to place a bale of dumped wool and the hydraulic press at my disposal to show how the steel tube is put in and how to take it out, and I would show also how rapidly the thermometer will register by inserting it into, say, a sack of chaff that had been saturated with boiling water ; it would show the same as if it got into a hot bale of wool. I could arrange with Superintendent Hugo to explain it to the Commissioners should I not be here. . The Commissioners decided to have the instrument explained and tested by Superintendent Hugo when visiting the wharf the following week. Extract from lecture by Professor Vivian B. Lewes, at Nottingham, in connection with the British Association, on the subject of spontaneous combustion, put in and marked " Exhibit No. 4." Extract from " Notes on Stowage," by Charles H. Hillcoat, on the combustion of coal, felt, flax, hemp, jute, and wool, put in, and marked " Exhibit No. 5." The Commission adjourned till Monday morning, 20th August, at 10.30 a.m.

Wellington, Monday, 20th August, 1906. The Commissioners met in the Upper Court, Magistrate's Courthouse, Wellington, at 10.30 a.m. The Commission, having conferred, proceeded to Ngahauranga, near Wellington, and were there shown over the works of the Wellington Meat Export Company (Limited), and inspected the methods and practice relating to those portions of the works coming within the scope of the investigations of the Commission. The Commission then proceeded to the fellmongery-works of Mr. A. Tyer, in the vicinity, and were shown over the premises, investigating the various processes through which the skins and wool pass, and the conditions under which they are handled. On returning to Wellington, the Commission conferred. Adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow, Tuesday, 21st August, 1906.

7—H. 29.