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2034. When did they bring that out ? —That was six weeks before the strikes commenced. 2035. What did they find it like when they got in there ?—I did not ask any questions. I saw the gear brought out, and I inquired who had been in. I was told it was the man who had been in the road to clear it. 2036. The place will be kept clean now ?—Yes. 2037. Would it be expensive to resume exploring?—No; it is all ready to go on again, except that the road is taken up. 2038. Have you ever done any more deadwork in the mine of the same kind in any other part ?—Yes. 2039. Where? Did you have anything to do with the Wallsend—any working?—l sunk the pit from the top in the Wallsend. 2040. Both of them? —No, the last new one. 2041. What did you have for sinking? —Day-wages. We met lots of gas going down. 2042. At any particular places?—l could not say. There is one at 200 ft., and I fancy it is 360 ft. down to the second blow of gas. 2043. What was it like ?—When we came down to it in the water, it was like taking down kerosene and throwing over it. It would light anywhere. We used to work by it at any time instead of candles. It was all going up the shaft. There was nothing stopping there. 2044. Did you get any extra gas when you struck the coal ?—The gas came from the last floor or two with the same pitch as the coal when we struck it at the bottom of the pit. 2045. Did you go through any changes of rock? Had you any soft shale-beds or sands ?—Yes, we had one very soft; we had some soft beds, but the country w 7 as very regular. 2046. You would have a ventilator?— Yes, we would have what we called a " windsail." 2047. When you got the coal did much gas come off?— No. 2048. Have you done any more driving in any other part of the field about there ? —I drove through a fault in the Wallsend dip—the Taylorville fault. 2049. What was it like ?—Hard grit the whole way, 25ft. 2050. Mr. Moody.] Did you drive level ?—Yes. 2051. You did not get through the fault ?—Yes. 2052. The Chairman.] What did you come to?— The coal came up from the bottom, and we followed the coal until it got to the height of the drive. 2053. Then the coal was dipping to you ? —Yes. 2054. You were driving under the river ? —Yes ; to the west, or towards Taylorville. 2055. What was the coal like ? —The best coal I have ever seen in the mine. 2056. Mr. Moody.] Was it free from stone? —No stone in it. 2057. The Chairman.] You came into it through the roof [indicating on plan]: what was the roof made of ? —lt was a nice yellow roof, very regular. It was sandstone grit. 2058. Did you try any of that coal at all ? Did you burn any of it ?—No, I did not burn any, but I heard one of the employers was burning some of it when they took it up. The bosses reckoned it was the best coal in the pit. 2059. Did you get any gas coming through that fault ?—Yes, we got a good deal of gas. We used to fire with safety cartridges. 2060. Why was the thing not followed on? Did you know there was nothing?—We got another turn. We went through the coal and straight on and came to another slide, and it turned us right round uphill. 2061. How far did you go through the coal to the next slide?—l think 20ft. 2062. Do you know how thick the seam was ?—We never got to the fireclay on the bottom. 2063. What depth of dip had she? Was it heavy ?—lt was dipping from us. 2064. You never went through the coal?—No; we drove 20 yards on it. We came to a slide then, but supposed the coal was in the bottom. 2065. Why did you think so ?—Because there was every indication of it. 2066. That would not mean a very serious fault, then ? —No, that did not. 2067. Was that the end of the work? —We left that work for the time being; but we afterwards got what they called a perpendicular fault. 2068. What did you do ? Did you put down a bore or a blast ?—We put a blast in the face of it. 2069. What kind of fault was it ? —lt had every indication of a downthrow. 2070. Did you get anything more ?—No. 2071. That is all that was done there?— Yes. 2072. When were you in there last? Was it soon before the mine was opened or closed?—lt might have been six or eight weeks before the mine was drowned. 2073. That fault was never proved ?—No. 2074. Do you think if they had driven further than 20 yards they would have driven further than the coal ?—I think the slide they cut there is the main fault; I fancy the coal is below this. That was the main fault from the way it looked. 2075. Was it completely cut off ?—Yes. 2076. You supposed the coal was in the bottom ?—Yes. 2077. Mr. Brown.] Eeferring back to the Brunner drift: where did you deliver the stuff that you got from the drift ? —We went to the river. 2078. Was it included in your contract price ? —No; we put it to the last incline, and the truckers took it from there and put it on the endless rope. Mr. William Stone sworn and examined. 2079. The Chairman.] What are you, Mr. Stone ?—District Eailway Manager.