No. 158. — April 15th. James Easton, Esq., Viewer of Hebburn, Fawdon, and Wideopen Collieries.

In winter the boys go down at 3 o'clock. a.m.; in the spring and in summer at 4 o'clock, a.m. this is to suit the light. Here they light the works at bank; the screens. &c. with gas; which is peculiar to this and to one or two other collieries. The collieries in general are lighted at bank by coal-fires. The arrangement of times above mentioned is made that the gas may be all burnt at the early part of the days. Here they employ a less number of younger boys than other collieries do, in proportion. By the use of frequent crossings the currents are distinct and they are enabled to dispense almost entirely with doors and consequently with boys as door-keepers. At Wideopen has 14 different currents and very few doors. This might be considered an extreme case but doubtless the work is safer. At Fawdon it is much about the same but since they have worked in pillars there it cannot be done to the same extent. Boys might therefore be, in a great measure, dispensed with as door-keepers, if absolutely necessary. The first cost is greater but the safety is greater of such a plan.

Thinks such arrangements are not made except in the collieries named. Drivers, putters &c. are indispensable. Nineteen-twentieths of the casualties among the drivers in coal-mines arise from carelessness.

It is a great object with parents to get their boys promoted, hence they wish them to be advanced beyond their strength. To the cupidity and improvidence of parents is to be ascribed the evils attending the employment of boys in a great measure; and as it is the race of pit men is greatly degenerated in appearance. The work being, however, taken at intervals little injury ensues.

One pit here, B pit, is wholly pillar-working; perhaps the third or fourth time; and owing to the efficiency of the ventilation no Davys are required, candles being wholly employed. The air there is not prejudicial and perfectly healthy.

Owing to the depreciated value of the currency at that time, as compared with this — from 35 to 50 years ago, the wages of 6d. a-day for trappers were superior to the present 10d. The morality of men and youths at that time was greatly superior to what it is at present. In an intermediate period, 15 or 20 years ago, they were worse then than before or since. Would not object to a law restraining boys from being employed down pits till 12 years of age. Would not ask for such a law, because he can now prevent the abuses. Does not think parents would send them to school and the children would be neither well fed or educated. Partly by encouragement and partly by compulsion would, in case of having a colliery as his own freehold, enforce the necessity of education. The most difficult period of a pitman's existence is probably while his family is young; before the eldest arrives to ten years old he has, perhaps, 4 or 5 children. Then children are uneducated and unfed.

At 7 perhaps they may go to the screens to pick out the stones, called 'wailing,' for which each boy is paid 6d. a-day certain for his time, and 4d. per bowl of stones picked out additional. Hence men apply earnestly for wailing for their children. It is only here that they are led to work at the surface before going down. This seam being a foul seam, more boys are necessary at the surface.

At Wideopen they use entirely ponies for helping up, not donkeys. Hence not any boys are employed for helping up. Only the driver of these galloways [perhaps 13 hands high] are necessary. No helping up is necessary. In putting at Wideopen the greatest rise is 3 inches to the yard; that is, they put down that inclination a full corve. There are two kinds of putting there. In one the pony brings the weight up the rise to the crane and the putter puts the empty corf down. In the other case the putter puts the empty corf up the hill and brings it down again when full. In very rare cases, for a short period, a lad may be employed to help up. At this [Hebburn] pit, in the intermediate stages between driving and putting, the lads are employed in many off-hand jobs, as stone or wood leading, plate laying. After that a lad goes to put the 16 peck corve; the inclination being very easy, he does this by himself. After having done this for 2 or 3 or 4 years then he goes to put the 20-peck corf on the same inclination, being then 18 or 19 years of age and owing to the seam being easy he goes to hew, perhaps at 19 years of age. Perhaps at Wideopen a person could not be set to hew till 21 or 22 years of age.

Does not think that parents in general fulfil the duties of parents to their children. They would not perhaps bring an unsound child to the pit and if they did, it would invariably be objected to by the master. Thinks that the production of a medical certificate as to the healthiness of children would be impracticable here, and would be greatly evaded. An educational certificate would be less impracticable and more beneficial.

Some years are better than others as to the employment, owing to the greater demand for coal. Does not think legislation on the employment of boys indispensable but yet very beneficial within certain limits.

Pit people often pay 10 or 15 per cent. on the cost of a single article purchased from hawkers by paying for it by instalments. So much is paid per fortnight and this is the inducement. Yet many purchasers do not pay a farthing. Pitmen have their clothes made and paid for in this way. Hence many sources of improvidence are observable in the system of credit, arising from the indolence of the man's wife, and perhaps his own.

At Fawdon 2 furnace keepers had each 14s. a-week; one, who had been a soldier, saved money; the other, a lead-miner, got into debt. The former dealt at Newcastle and the latter at the small hucksters' shops.

There are here 3 schools, 1 day-school and 2 night-schools and 3 chapels, dissenting chapels. In one of these schools the master is paid £10 per annum by the owners of the colliery and the others are furnished with books occasionally. All have their house and firing free. The night school, especially in winter time, is well attended by pit lads. Reading and writing is taught there. Does not think any instruction on the nature and mode of working coal would be regarded as beneficial. Would not make them better workmen. A well educated and well behaved lad is sometimes brought out of the pit and promoted to an apprenticeship to a superior business — as to an engine-wright, &c. The parents object to this frequently because of the diminished wages while he is an apprentice.

No. 159. — Mr. Thomas Clarke, Under-viewer.

Thinks this colliery well managed in all respects. There are 4 day-schools, 3 Sunday-schools, 3 places of worship, all Methodist. Books are brought for the Sunday-schools. The putters and the waggon-drivers are generally the most numerous class in a pit. Putters do not perhaps attend so much to schooling, they being older boys. The waggon-drivers mostly go to Sunday-school. Being younger the parents have more control over them. The children are in all cases well treated. As to punishment, there is nothing more than a tap with a stick or anything mild in that way. Nothing of that kind hurts them much. The lads and boys are generally healthy and full grown and have quite enough food — bacon or mutton and bread. There is very little sickness amongst them. Their clothing is pretty good. Boys of 16, 17, or 18, get often very unruly and headstrong. Knows of no particular vices or bad conduct. The viewers can keep these in a great measure down.

No. 160. — Thomas Rutherford.

Aged 58 years. Has been a hewer for nearly 40 years in different collieries on the Tyne. Has observed a great change since he commenced hewing at 18 years of age. About 35 years ago the boys used to work 14 and 15 hours in the pit, and their labour was much harder. Being so long down they had little scholarship. Now they have more opportunities and the parents make use of these, but not always. Thinks and knows by experience that youths are better fed and clothed than formerly. Pit people do not save much. Some could if they would. Morals are much better now, but still not so good as he would wish pit children are more ignorant than the children of other labouring classes. 30 years ago the drivers had only 1s. a-day, now they have 1s. 3d. a-day. There were very few 'putters' in those days. They used horses and sledges more — not laying any tram or rolley away. Saw much cockfighting and drinking in those days. Not so much now.

No. 161. — John Fell.

Thirty-two years old. Hewer. Agrees with the preceding witness in all he has stated. There a great difference in different pits in many things. Some are fined for swearing. There are some natural difficulties in working the coal here. Has worked at four other Tyne collieries and thinks the people are better behaved here. Witnesses say there are 3 Sunday-schools, Methodist — all well attended. The average attendance at the whole will be 150 scholars. Also 2 night-schools, pretty well attended; day-schools for children, well attended.

No. 162. — April 15th. William Rain.

Aged 17. A putter. Gets 2s. a-day. Cannot read or write and goes to no school whatever. Little finger was cut off 6 years ago. Was keeping a door and slipped off his seat waggons went over his finger and arm, and feet; laid off 6 months. Is sound except as to his hand. His shoulder was put out 4 years since; was off 2 months. Whiles feels his shoulder weak. Pit air agrees well with him. Does not dislike pit work. Never feels sick but forced his meat up last week because the smoke of the powder got into his belly. Never forced it up before. Has had pains in his side that went to his head by a wrench from shoving hard in putting last quarter. Was putting up a very steep place a full corf. Never had any other wrench. The men whiles rub him and throw a small piece of coal at him — nothing to hurt. His brother got a wrench last quarter putting up a full corf up a very steep bank without help and he was laid off a week. Parents draw his money, and he gets 1s. a fortnight out of it. Gets all he wants to eat. Can make no complaints.

No. 163. — George Hall.

Aged 17. Had his thigh broken 7 years since; was off 5 months, and his skull was damaged by falling against the crane handle 8 years ago and he was kept off 6 months. Walks a little lame now. Feels nothing else from these accidents. Had his leg cut before his thigh was broken and was kept off 3 weeks. Is a putter now. Gets 2s. a-day. Is healthy. Never has the doctor. Has never lost a day except with the aforesaid accidents. Cannot read much; cannot write; goes to no school of any kind now.

No. 164. — James Young.

Aged 16. Putter gets 2s. a-day. Has been lamed once, 5 years since, in his leg; off 8 weeks. Feels nothing more from the accident. The powder reek [smoke from the blasting of the coal] makes his head work whiles. Has made him sick. Nothing else makes sick. This powder reek has made him once or twice force up his meat again. Cannot or write. Goes to no school now.

No. 165. — Thomas Bell.

Aged 16. Is putting in places a yard high. Never affects him in any way. Never sore tired. Never feels sick. Knew one boy, Robert Palmer, who has felt the pit hurt him. It makes him sick. work makes him unwell. He is a tender boy. Not so strong as some boys. It would hurt a strong boy. Reads spelling-book. Cannot write. Goes to no school now.

No. 166. — Seventeen Boys, respectively aged 10 to 17.

Eleven of these are drivers. Twelve can read an easy book. Six can write their names. Four go to night-school. Ten go to Sunday-school. Thirteen have met with accidents of various degrees of importance. Of these 17 boys, eight went down the pit. at 8 years old; four at 9 years old; three at 7 years old; one at 10; one at 11 years of age. Nothing can be elicited from the boys further, than that they are called at 4 o'clock, down the pit to start at 5 [p.m.] Loose at 5 and half-past 5. Ten boys have stayed down occasionally; once or twice the whole 24 hours and never up the pit at all during that time and had their baits sent down to them. Some of them forced to stay down this length of time but like it for the additional money. All would if they could. It does not hurt their health but they want sleep very much. They are whiles to do it and it is their own good will to do it. Nine boys have been whiles beaten or thumped by the putters, with their hands — nothing to hurt them very much. Working in the broken hurts them all a little. The bad air makes their heads work whiles and they feel hot.

No. 167. — Andrew Brack.

Aged 12. Drives. Gets 1s. 3d. A year ago fell off from back part of rolley and the wheel went over him and broke his left leg. Was laid off 6 months. Walks quite lame now. Last Tuesday was off 2 days because his leg was bad. Never is bad down the pit. Never sick, always well. Gets what he wants to eat and drink. Putters sometimes, but very seldom, thump him.

No. 168. — Ten Boys, respectively aged 11 to 16.

Six are drivers; 2 are putters; 1 is a helper up; 1 a greaser of rolleys; 2 read the Testament; 2 read an easy book; 3 write their own names; 2 go to night-school ; 2 go to Sunday-school. Six have had accidents, of more or less importance. The worst case is that of Robert Young, 16, a putter; was run over by the rolleys; knee was split; head was split; both sides of his legs were hurt. Kept off 3 months. Is not well now but suffering from the breaking out of sores again. Whiles is taken bad down the pit; thinks it is from getting lamed. Ever since he got lamed has never been well since. Still works down the pit. Has no mother. Father behaved badly to them; and he (witness) came to live at his cousin's here. Makes 2s. 6d. a-day, or 2s., or not so much at times.

No. 169. — John Charlton.

Aged 19. Working, in the broken, at putting. Thinks the stythe makes him bad, so that he cannot eat his bait; and very often brings it all home with him again, or eats very little of it. Knows a lad at the same crane suffering in the same way. Stythe makes their heads work and then it goes to his belly. Often obliged to give over. Has been off 5 days in the last month. Each of these days was down the pit and obliged to come up again. Sometimes was 2 hours down; sometimes 3. Whiles is putting in a very low place, which sometimes knocks the skin off his back. [Has a sickly appearance.]