C—l 4.

48

[D. WEAK.

51. Was there a large quantity of gas on this occasion when you found it?—No, you could just tell there was gas there. 52. Did David Molesworth, jun., ever call your attention to a large name some feet long at any time?—No, never. 53.. Did Robert Neil ever call your attention to such a thing?— Never. 54. Now, when you were giving evidence at the Coroner's inquest you told Mr. Napier that vuu always tested for gas from the beginning where your common-sense told you gas might be. What indications would make you test for gas?— H the air was bad 1 would test for it. 55. That is the sole reason? —Yes. 56. Do you mean where there was a bad smell or it was stuffy? —Yes, and if there was not sufficient air. 57. Then you test it? —Yes. 58. Now, do you remember No. 6 bord in the little dip where Martin's body was found, No. 43?— Yes. 59. And you know that No. 6 bord runs almost directly north and south?— Yes. 60. Do you know that south and westward slightly, where Martin's body was found, the old fall is in No. 5 bord? —Yes, 1 know where the old fall is. but I was not sure where Martin's body was found. I know where the door was blown out, though I cannot put a number to the bord. [Sketch-plan discussed by witness with Mr. Wilford.] 61. When were you at the spot marked by me on ilie plan [Exhibit AA] with a W, prior to the explosion? —On the 9th September, 1914. 62. You were last at the spot marked W on the 9th September, before the explosion?— Yes. 63. Since the accident have you been to that fall? —Yes. 64. When?— Last Wednesday or Thursday. 65. How near to that cross [on Exhibit AA] are the vails lying?— They are a good bit off there now; they have all been lifted out of those bords. '66? When you were there last week they were there?—l could not say. Would you deny it?— No. 68. Before the explosion were the rails where the cross W is marked on the plan [Exhibit AA]? —They might have been there. 69. Where were the rails?—l could not say. Most of the rails were lifted out of those bords. 70. When?—l could not say. 71. Would you deny that they were there last Wednesday?—l do not know. 72. Did you see them there?—No, I did not. 73. Now, if Mr. Bishop was correct in the evidence he gave at the Coroner's inquest, and Martin entered this No. 6 bord, it looks as if he was at the rails? —That does not say he was going to take them out of that bord. 74. Do you not say that Martin was going to get rails? —I did not. 75. Did you hear any one say so?—I did not. 76. Do you know whether it is a fact that on the Saturday morning of the disaster Martin was going to get rails from the little dip?—l do not know. 77. You never heard anything said by Brownlie on that point?— No. 78. In the course of your duty j-ou go into No. 5 bord at least once a week? —Yes. 79. And you tell the Commission you do not know whether any rails were in that No. 5 bord? —1 would not say; there might be rails lying about the sides. 80. You evidently do not know what there was in that No. 5 bord? —I do not go to see what is lying about the roads. 81. You do not look for rails or gas, and you cannot tell me whether there were any rails on that fall three days before the explosion?— There were no rails to be removed, not down in that place; there were one or two through at the side. 82. If they were there last week j r ou did not see them? —If they were put down I. might see them, but if they were lying at the side I might not notice them. 83. Was the old fall gassy on the 9th?--No. 84. Have you seen it since the explosion, and do you know that it is gassy?— Yes, I do. 85. Very gassy? —I could not say that it is very gassy, but I would not say it is not. 86. Would you say that it is possible that there has been measured in that district over 200,000 cubic feet of gas?—l quite believe it. 87. Well, the old fall is gassy. Am I not right in saying that the new fall in No. 6 bord, in which Martin's body was lying, is not gassy? Have you ever seen any sign of gas in No. 6?— I never examined it —the new fall. 88. You told me that you always looked for gas when you smelt it? —Yes. 89. You never noticed any condition there which led you to desire to test for gas?— When I went in there last week I did not go to examine that new fall for gas. 90. Why?—l went in with the under-manager. 91. When you were there on Wednesday you never noticed there was any gas? —I did not go down to it. 92. How close were you to it?* —8 or 10 yards away. 93. If it were gassy you would know 8 or 10 yards away? —No. I did not go for any examination last Wednesday. 94. Was there any gas there at all?—No, I do not think so; but I am not sure. 95. You cannot tell me whether there was any gas there? —No, I cannot; I was not there to see. 96. On your tour of inspection do you ever take any air-test? —-No. 97. Caii you?— No.