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air had a nasty smell and full of gas. After some time we got our lamps alight, and went to Taupiri West. I have been six months in the mine, and always found it free from gas and the air good. I was working in No. 5 for three days six months ago. I have never heard any complaints from the men about the ventilation or presence of gas. There used to be coaidust on the main road when I went there, but now it is kept well watered ; in fact, it is slushy. By Mr. Bennie : I have not worked in any but No. 5 and No. 6 special. It used to be dusty before they watered it. Ido not know what method was used to water it. It has been well watered for the past two months. Joseph William Ritchie, sworn, saith :lam a trucker, employed at Ralph's Mine. I went down the mine at 7 a.m. on the morning of the accident, in company with others, including Wilkie. We were close together when the terrific gust of wind occurred. I could not say whether it came in front or behind. I was knocked down. I was not injured. Eventually I got out at Taupiri West. I have never heard any complaints amongst the men as to gas or insufficient ventilation in the mine. I have been mining for eight years, and in Ralph's Mine for six months. I have never seen any signs of gas in the mine, and the ventilation was real good. There was no dust on the travelling-road from No. 6 flat sheet. The road had been well watered. By Mr. Tunks : I have been travelling along that way since I have been in the mine. It was being watered a little at first, but for the last two months at least it has been really well watered. By Mr. Bennie :I do not know the man's name who was watering. Water-pipes are only on the travelling-road to No. 6 flat sheet. John Walter Hollis, sworn, saith :lam a detective sergeant, stationed at Auckland. On the 20th instant I interviewed Peckham and Jackson in the Hamilton Hospital. They are both ill, suffering from burns and other injuries. I took down the statements they made in reference to my inquiries from them. The statements are produced. They were unable to write. Their state of mind was clear. It was not read over to them after it was taken down. [Statement of Jackson put in and marked "L " ; Peckham's statement put in and marked " M ".] The statements were made in answer to questions put by me. I did not lead them at all. Herbert Augustus Earby, sworn, saith :lam a set rider, employed in Ralph's Mine. I went down the mine on the 12th September at 7 a.m. I went down with Tolan and others. We proceeded to Darby's cabin, and there received instructions from Deputy Smith. We were instructed to proceed to work at Taupiri West. We went down the main haulage-way as far as No. 6 cabin. We saw Deputy Whorskey there breaking carbide. We saw no one else about. After leaving No. 6 cabin we went along the travelling-road as far as No. 6G. We reached No. 6 winch. There was then a short sharp rumble, followed by a gust of wind, followed by fine coaidust. It came behind us. We were carrying naked lights, and had carried them right through the workings from the foot of the shaft. My lamp kept alight. I was not knocked down, as I caught hold of a prop. We went on to Taupiri West and came out there. I have been working in the mine three years last August. I have always found it a safe mine, and that has always been the impression amongst the miners. I have never heard anything to the contrary among the miners. I have not noticed dust on the haulageways, but there was dust in the travelling-ways. This has been well watered for this last two or three months. I did not go into the old workings that morning, but kept to the main travelling-road. I have never been in the old workings, nor seen any of the men go there. By Mr. Bennie : The travelling-road would be 14 ft. wide. Half of that was watered, down the middle. The sides were a little dusty. James Young, sworn, saith :lam a clipper, employed in Ralph's Mine. I went down the mine on the morning of the 12th September at 7 a.m. I proceeded along the main travelling-road past No. (i cabin and along No. 6 rope-road. William Mitchell was with me until we got to the rope-road, and there were two others caught us up. We had nearly reached No. 6 winch when a gust of wind caught us and knocked me down. I did not hear any noise of an explosion or a fall. The wind came behind us. There was a dusty smell with it. I have been working in coal-mines for about twelve years. I have worked in Millerton and Stockton Mines. I have only worked in Ralph's Mine for three months. This mine compares with other mines I have worked in very favourably. I have never noticed any gas in the mine. I came out at Taupiri West shaft. Albert Alexander Stewart, sworn, saith : lam a machine-man, employed in Ralph's Mine. I went down the mine on the morning of the 12th September at 7 a.m. I was with .Fletcher and others. Fletcher and I went down the main haulage-road until we got to the stable, and then crossed to the main travelling-road. We then went along No. 6 flat sheet. We got through No. 3 door on the travelling-road. We heard a report, and it put the lights out. After the report we felt a very strong gust of wind, with dust and fumes. We were the last two that crossed the flat sheet. This gust of wind came from behind. I thought the report came from the direction of No. 6 flat sheet. The dust came from that direction. We were not knocked down, but were blown against the side of the road. Some time after we lit our lights, and after we picked the others up we tried to return the way we came. We found the air too bad. We got within 150 yards of No. 6 flat sheet. We subsequently got out at Taupiri West. I have been in the mine fifteen months. I have been latterly working in Wilson's jig, No. 6 jig. I have always found the mine free of gas. I have been down the mine since the explosion. I think the most damage has been done from No. 5 to No. 6. The bodies of those found about No. 5 and No. 6 were all scorched. Those found in No. 7 seemed to have died from gas. No. 6 travelling-road was always kept well watered.