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also that the existing coal leases should be compelled to start work within twelve months, or if they fail to do so they ought to be cancelled by the Governor. Some of the leases here have been locked up now for the last fifteen years, and have not been worked. 1216. Mr. Broivn.] Can you give the names?— Well, some in Coal Creek have been locked up that time. 1217. Who are the lessees ? Can you name any of them?—l think Mr. Hamilton, of the Ninemile, and Mr. Eose. 1218. Coal Creek and Nine-mile ?—Yes. 1219. Would there be any advantage in opening up any more mines in the district ?—-Of course there would be more revenue to the Government, employment of labour, and a general development of the place. There would be a market for the coal; it could go as straight as the crow flies over to China. 1220. Is there any other reason why it would be advantageous to have other coal-mines opened at the same time ? Do you think competition is a good or a bad thing ?—lf we had some competition now we would not have this bother. Monopoly has simply ruined this place ; at any rate, to a certain extent. 1221. Tell us what is in your mind about it? —Well, when there is only one company they can charge any price they like. I think it should be free from any individual or any individual shipping company. It should be made compulsory to supply any ship with coal that requires it. 1222. That is not the case at present ? —No. But it should be a condition stipulated in the lease making it compulsory to supply coal to the first comer. In fact, now the Union Shipping Company can just charge what they like. 1223. How was it before the amalgamation?— Before that any person who came in here with a vessel could get a cargo of coal. 1224. That is, the amalgamation of 1888?— Yes. 1225. Did it work well ?—Yes. 1226. You mean, better for the interests of the miners?— Yes. 1227. Was there a larger output at that time than now, and were there more men employed?— There were certainly not so many idle. 1228. Have you any estimate of the number of men these mines occupy now ?—I suppose if the men were to start working to-morrow on a single shift there would be forty-six men employed. That would be ninety-two on a double shift from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. for coal-hewers. That would be ten places in the Coal-pit Heath and thirteen in the Brunner, taking the pillars in Coal-pit Heath. 1229. You have told us that they should not go on ?—As a matter of fact, they should not go on, but that is not to say they could not be employed at it. Ido not mean that it w T ould be dangerous, but it would not be judicious at the present time, I should say. 1230. How many truckers, haulers, and surface-men would the mines occupy ?—Perhaps about sixty or seventy; so that there would be about 160 people employed altogether. 1231. Have you any idea of the number there are at present?—l have no idea whatever. 1232. How many are employed in the coke- and fireclay-works? — I should say nine or ten, but I have not been in the habit of going near them. 1233. Are there more than 150 miners and surface-men at Brunnerton now waiting for work? —Twice as many—about 300 altogether, I should think. 1234. How many of these would be miners?— Perhaps about 170 or 180 hewers. 1235. Then the number is very much in excess of what the mines will employ ? —Yes ; that is on account of the Wallsend stopping. 1236. The Chairman.] I suppose the Wallsend is like the Coal-pit Heath—it could not be opened until more work has been done exploring ?—I believe they could work a portion of it. 1337. You believe the Wallsend might be reopened; and would that absorb all the surplus labour ?—Yes, I believe it would. There are sufficient places to absorb all the surplus population. 1238. Would there be room for eighty hewers in the Wallsend?—About forty hewers and about the same number of wages-men. In the dip there are very good places, I believe. 1239. How would they get their dip dry ?—There is very little water in portion of it, and there is good coal to the dip. There is also some good coal to work out to the north-east part. 1240. Mr. Brown.] Has this state of short employment continued long here?— They have always kept more men about here than was necessary. 1241. Have the company induced them to come, and kept them here, or are they here voluntarily ? —That I could not say. I have heard several different statements. 1242. I should like to know what they are ?—Well, they have started men to work when they have had no right to start them. The men upon several occasions requested the company not to start fresh men, but they were started, and so adding to the number. They were men who had not been there before. 1243. What do you think was the reason of that ?—I do not know, unless it was to keep the mines overcrowded. 1244. Then, new men have been employed ?—Yes. I think the Government ought to make all railways for opening up new coalfields—that is, up to the works. 1245. Before they are worked ?—Yes. I am alluding to the Coal Creek, the Blackball, and the north of the Brunner, and others on the other side of the present Brunner. 1246. You do not apply that to the whole colony ?—Yes; I should apply it to the whole colony. Of course, there would have to be a lot of discretion used in that. 1247. The Chairman.] Do you know the Blackball seam? — I have been up there and all round it. 1248. Do you think well of it?—lt is a nice piece of coal, if there was sufficient of it there