B. CAMPBELL.]

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7. Have you been present when any were taken?— Yes. 8. How does the temperature you are working in compare with that in which it is reasonable to expect a man to do a fair day's work in? How does it affect a man? —Well, I find at times that a man's heart beats a good deal faster than it should. I have known men who have had to go down to the level—they felt sort of seasick. 9. How long ago is it since you saw the temperature taken?—lt was taken some months ago; but we were not so high in the stope then as we are now. It is Elsegood's stope that I am working in. 10. That is the one in which there was some heating going on? —Yes. 11. Since the use of rock-drills has the temperature gone up?—We have never used anything else. We did not start with hand labour; we started with the machines. 12. Have you anything to say to the Commission in regard to that temperature?— Well, I think it is too hot for a man to work in for any length of time. 13. What do you mean by that?— The present hours are too long for such a warm place. 14. What do you think would be reasonable? —I think six hours would be sufficient. 15. And if you could get the temperature down to 75° you could work eight hours? —Yes. 16. Have you any suggestion to make as to the method by which it should be reduced?—No, 1 could not say anything as to that. The lode is naturally hot. 17. From the nature of the lode you think the heat could not be reduced to any great extent? -Yes. 18. is there any other matter you wish to draw our attention to? —No, I do not think I have anything to say as to accidents. I have never been connected with serious ones. Some of my mates have met with accidents, but not any serious ones. 19. How did they happen?— One man was struck with a windlass-handle over the eye. 20. Was there a pawl on the windlass? —It was what they call a crab-winch, and he was lowering something. It did not happen on my shift. He was found lying down. 21. Do you not use windlasses when you are sinking?—No; on that occasion we were sinking down to connect with a rise, and were putting the dirt down through a pass. I could not say how this man got hurt. He said himself it was not the winch, but that a stone came down the shaft; but, of course, we do not know. 22. Have you anything to say as to shot-firing, and whether the firing should be done by fuse or by electricity?—l believe in the use of electric batteries in shafts, and I think they would be better than fuse in rises also, but I have never used them. 23. In a face where a number of shots are required, which do you think is the better plan?:— Four or five is plenty for any man to fire with a fuse, but 1 would not care about using the battery in a stope. 24. What do you think about having a shot-firer to fire all shots : is it a workable scheme?— It may be workable if the shot-firer has not too large a district, because you could not wait all day for a man to come and fire your shots. 25. What is your opinion as to the size of the trucks and the causes of accidents while trucking?— Well, in the first place, the trucks are too big, and the lines as laid are uphill and downhill and any way at all. I find that trucking is the hardest work I have ever done. I would sooner go into a hot place. 26. About the curves? —The lines would be better if the road were made straighter, or if there was no grade. I have known men to strain themselves when lifting the big trucks when they got off the roads. 1 have hurt myself that way. 27. What is your opinion as to the necessity of bath-houses and change-houses?—l think they are very necessary, and hot and cold showers should be provided. AYe have no hot ones here, where we change at No. 4 change-house. 28. What is the present proportion of men to a bath, and how many men use them?—A good many—l could not say how many. They are used mostly in the summer-time, but also a good deal in winter. The basins are too close to the showers, which run along in a row behind you when you are using the basins. 29. Mr. Dowgray.] In regard to the temperature of your stope, about which the Chairman questioned you, do you not think if there were a greater volume of air it would be cooler, even though the lode was hot?—lt may clear out the smoke, but as soon as you exert yourself you feel the heat coming from the lode. 30. But it would not have as depressing an effect upon you? —It may not. 31. You heard what the other witnesses said as to the necessity for brattice-cloth or doors: would that not be an improvement?— Yes, I believe in swing-doors, but not in the brattice. It is a failure. The swing-door is much the better. There has been one put up near where I have been working, and it is a great improvement. It is the only one I have seen in the mine; but I have not been all over the mine. It sends a big current of air up the main way, but when you get into the stope you cannot feel it, because it is so wide. 32. If the ladderway were wider there would be more air going up ?-—Yes, I suppose so. 33. Mr. Parry.] You think it is very essential to have a standard temperature for six-hour places?— Yes. 34. What temperature would you suggest?—l think about 75° or 76° is quite hot enough for a man to work eight hours. - 35. Have you ever had much experience of working in ends and shaft-sinking?—l have worked in a couple of ends in the Waihi Mine. They were pretty hot. 36. The Chairman.] Can you say what temperature they were?—No, I do not remember any one taking the temperature. It may have been taken during another shift. That was shortly after I first came. . ...