H.—27

6

14. With reference to our recommendation that the Government should supervise the storage and sale of small quantities of explosives, we append hereto in support a newspaper account of the storage of explosives in retail establishments in the Town of Pahiatua. 15. We wish to make special reference to the offer by Messrs. Nobel to carry out any alterations to their Maraetai Magazine which are herein, recommended, 16. A description of an explosion of 90 tons of high explosives which occurred in the Suez Canal in 1905 was handed in by Mr. Timson, Messrs. Nobel's representative in Australasia ; it is attached hereto as Exhibit No. 10. [Not printed.] From this it will be seen that the damage caused was confined to a much smaller area than was expected —for instance, the Freshwater Canal, situated quite close, was undamaged. 17. A petition in two parts was handed in by Messrs. Porter and Co., addressed to the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs, which is appended hereto (Exhibits Nos. 2a and 2b) praying in effect that the present conditions regarding the storage, handling, and supervision of explosives in Auckland be allowed to continue. It will be observed that Exhibit No. 2a is signed by a large number of responsible merchants of Auckland City, and that Exhibit No. 2b is signed by a number of residents of Maraetai, Clevedon, and Whitford. [Exhibits not printed.] 18. In conclusion, we desire to acknowledge the assistance rendered to us during the inquiry by the witnesses, and to express our appreciation of the facilities afforded by Messrs. Nobel's Limited and the Thames Harbour Board in our inspections. Mr. L. M. Shera ably and satisfactorily discharged the duties of secretary, and Miss Walker those of reporter to the Commission. Given under our hands, at Wellington, this first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen. R. W. Holmes, M.lurft.C.E., Engineer-in-Chief, Chairman. T. K. Elmsley, Lieutenant, R.N. H. M. Edwards, Captain, R.E.

[Approximate Colt ol Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (7(10 copies), £3 7s. 6(1

Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—1914.

Price 6d.]