C—4.

216

B. BENNIE.

185. What does the Act say?—" Adequately ventilated." 186. From where? —It says that the face and drives shall be ventilated and the air shall be kept travelling therein, so that they may at all times be in a fit state for working and passing therein. 187. Do you think that that face was in a fit state for working?— Yes. 188. Did you measure the air in the return?— That would be almost impossible. There is a drive 8 ft. by 7 ft. by 7 ft., which would mean about 60 ft. of area, while the minimum which the anemometer would register (ten revolutions) would give 600 ft. 189. Do you not think that efforts should be made to keep the shaft clearer? —Yes, an endeavour is being made. 150 cubic feet of air is being discharged out of the air-boxes in the shaft-chamber. Every 25 ft. there is an airhole for discharging the air into the drive. 190. Do you not think that, seeing that the blower is capable of producing more air, a greater quantity should be supplied ?—At the time of your visit a fresh flow of water and sudden inrush of carbon-dioxide gas had come into the drive, and made the conditions worse than they have been at any time since the Exchange reef was cut. 191. Are you aware that the gas in the Deep Levels tunnel increased to such an extent last night that the speed of the blower had to be increased? —No, I was not aware of that. 192. How do you know that the conditions on the occasion of our visit were worse than at any time previously?—By my previous examinations and long experience of working in mines. 193. In spite of the evidence given by witnesses that it was better than it had been for some time?— That was their evidence. 194. Do you know of any colliery in Great Britain where shafts are used exclusively for ventilation purposes without winding-apparatus in them? —No, I do not. 195. Is it customary for the shafts in the Old Country to be all sunk nowadays? Is it not a modern method ?—I remember they were round shafts when I was a boy. 196. Are they all round shafts in the collieries in Scotland, for instance? —No, not at all. 197. Can you name any that are round shafts?—No, not in Scotland; but in the North of England there are the Backworth, Maud, and Sea Pits. 198. Have you had any experience in firing shots with batteries? —No, but I have seen them used. 199. You seem to consider the cost to be one of the principal obstacles to their use?—l heard the mine-manager at Hikurangi say they cost £20. I simply quote his statement. I have not purchased any myself. 200. Would it surprise you that they cost only £4 10s. ?—lt would surprise me to hear that they cost less than £20, with cable. 201. In reply to a question by Mr. Reed you said that the use of batteries would add considerably to the working-cost. Is it not a fact that there is a vast difference between coal and gold mines, in that in the former the men's earning-powers depend upon, the material gotten, and that in those mines they are not permitted to fire their own shots? —I am not aware of that. There is nothing to that effect in the statute. 202. It is in the English Act? —That may be so. 203. Would it surprise you that in a colliery like Millerton, which employs four hundred miners, four batteries would be sufficient under the present system there? —Their workings must be very much concentrated if four would be sufficient. I know that in the Huntly Mine they have three or four shot-firers, and they are kept going continually. 204. Do you not consider that such matters as providing manholes and shot-firing should be put into plain English, and not left to you as Inspector to decide? —It is already provided as far as haulage-ways are concerned. 205. But the Act is very vague on the point. It says, " Where more than 10 tons are passing in a particular hour "1 —That section you are quoting provides for the safety of people travelling, and not as to shot-firing. 206. Do you not consider precautions should be taken as to shot-firing? —Certainly; but no man will remain within 200 ft. when shots are being fired. 207. The Chairman .] The point is, Mr. Bennie, do you consider that a standard distance should be fixed, or that it should be left to the Inspector to decide? —I think it should be left to the discretion of the Inspector. 208. Mr. Parry.] You say that mechanical ventilation is the best? —Yes. 209. Taking the Waihi Mine as an instance, do you think much better results would be obtained by mechanical ventilation than by the" natural ventilation they have there?— Yes, very much. 210. Have you not noticed in different places where there are stopes being worked that a good current of air has been passing through the level, but in the stope the current has been very small? —In one mine visited by the Commission they were taking out a stope. The mine had been closed for some time and close timbered up. They are now opening it, and there was no communication to circulate the current round. As soon as that stope is taken out I shall insist on better circulation. 211. You think it is possible to force the air up and round with stope doors? —Decidedly. 212. You said, in answer to a question put by the Chairman, I think, in regard to the use of baths and change-houses, that the miners at the Thames might take their clothes home and wash them more regularly. Do you not think that if proper provision were made for the men to obtain warm water and the use of drying-apparatus those men would wash their clothes more frequently than they do at the present time?—l have known very f«w miners would take the trouble of washing their own clothes if they had a wife or sister capable of doing it for them.