G. WABNE.]

201

C.-4.

55. Would you be in favour of engine-drivers being periodically examined by a doctor as to their eyesight and liability to fits ?—Well, that is rather a difficult question to answer. I certainly would if I detected any defects in a man's eyesight or subjection to fits ; I would take steps to remove him, and to compel him to undergo a medical examination. There might not be any objection to the proposal. 56. Have you made a specialty of mine-temperatures ? —No, I have not made a specialty of the subject, but I have taken temperatures. 57. Would you consider yourself to be conversant with the theory of mine-temperatures—that is, sufficiently so as to set yourself up as an authority on the matter ? —No. 58. Are you of the opinion that exhaust ventilation would prejudicially affect the air in the crosscut for the truckers more than the blower does ? —Yes, I believe it would, because it would certainly gather up carbonic acid in the intake and also in the outlet. 59. As regards infectious diseases, would you be in favour of newcomers to a district beingexamined by a doctor to prohibit their entering a mine in case of infecting their fellow-workmen ?—lt is perhaps a rather delicate subject, but in the interests of the men working in the mine I have often felt that some such provision should be made. I have worked with consumptive men, and I can assure the Commission that I felt none too comfortable under the circumstances. 60. Mr. Cochrane.] I think you told us, Mr. Warne, that after due consideration you decided on a blower as the best means for ventilating the low level ? —Yes. 61. And so you got one ?—Yes. 62. A new one ?—No, it was a second-hand one, but practically new. Ido not think it had done twenty-four hours' work. 63. Then, supposing that the blower becomes insufficient to deal with the quantity of gas coming into the low level, what would you propose ? —I propose to connect at once with the Saxon shaft, and put up an exhaust fan. 64. As to baths, I understand you are against burdening the smaller mines with the expense of erecting them ? —Yes ; in fact, I am not in favour of baths at all unless it is made compulsory for the men to use them, because of the companies being put to such expense. 65. Not even for the larger mines ? —No. 66. If a medical authority were to tell you that it was most beneficial for men suffering from miners' phthisis to have baths, would you be in favour of it ? —My opinion is that the men would not use them unless they were compelled to do so, and it would not be practicable to make the men use them. 67. In regard to electrical shot-firing and the use of a battery for a round of holes, how many holes could the fuse safely be used for ?—I think not more than six shots should be fired with a fuse. Sometimes accidents are caused by short and defective fuse. 68. I understand you test your safety-catches every week ?—Yes. 69. What is the length of the drop ? —About 1-J in.; that is, measuring before dropping, and after it has dropped. 70. Do you test them at the surface or flat sheets ?—At the surface. 71. Do you put beams underneath to prevent them from falling down the shaft ?—Sometimes, if we have doubts as to their gripping efficiency, we do so. 72. How much slack rope do you allow ? —4 ft. or 5 ft.; often the whole length of the chain. 73. Mr. Dowgray.] When would you consider, Mr. Warne, that a mine was adequately ventilated ? —When a man could work in comfort. 74. From the chamber to the face ? —Yes. 75. Do you consider the Deep Level Mine is in that condition now ? —lt should be if the ventilator were kept going as it should be. 76. You stated that the blower was capable of delivering 12,000 cubic feet of air per minute ?— Yes, at a short distance. 77. It is not capable of delivering that quantity at the face ? —No, I would not say that. 78. When we took the measurement on Saturday it was over 8,000 ft. ? —No, not going at 120 revolutions. 79. But those are our figures ? —About 3,000 ft. is the actual amount being delivered at the present time. 80. You were present and heard the other witnesses refer to a complaint as to the stoppage of the blower ?—Yes. It is started at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon and stopped at 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, but if the men made a request to have, it started earlier it would be complied with. I have never been asked to start the blower earlier. 81. And you have never had any complaints about the trucking-roads being in such a bad state ? —No ; from the face to the shaft I know the road is none too good, but we have done everything we could to improve matters. 82. You admit that it is bad ? —I do not admit that it is bad ; I have worked in worse places. 83. Why is this blower not driven at greater speed ? —They have not requested it. If the men had asked they could have had more ventilation. 84. You have hsard a witness quote figures from a diary showing that the speed of the blower was increased from 100 to 120 revolutions per minute ?—You will understand that I am not in charge of that work. We are only an advisory committee. There is another man in charge of that work. 85. In connection with the ladder from No. 6 section to No. 9, have you ever travelled that way ? —Not through the May Queen shaft. 86. Mr. Parry.'] Does the May Queen come within your scope ? —No, I have nothing to do with the May Queen ; it is quite distinct from the mine of which 1 have charge.