No. 218. — March 17th. Mr. Ralph Laycourt, Aged 52, Under-viewer.

Has been such about 5 years. Was previously deputy-overman at Manor Wallsend. Was brought up in pits from 6 years of age, when he kept a door; then children used to go to work at 2 o'clock a.m. and sometimes stop till 8 or 9 at night, often till 7 o'clock. This was the case with all the boys. There were no putters then but horses were used. The boys were trappers or drivers. They were much worse off then than now. There was then no chance for schooling. Cock-fighting, drinking and bowling were very common and folk were more shameless. Girls of 6, 7, or 8 years old then frequently worked at bank. Witness then put with an old woman who had followed a regular course of colliery labour. She was an unmarried mother. Recollects her having two children, one of whom worked in the pit. This was at Denton Burn Pit. It was a peculiar case in that district. There were no other females in the pit. The 'way,' or 'barrow-way,' in the pits was in those days chiefly of wood. Iron plates were beginning to be introduced. All trams were put by two or three boys at one tram; if by two, these were 14 or 15 years old and would earn each 1s. or 1s. 3d. a-day. If by three, one was 13 or 14 years old, and the other two were about 8 or 9 years old.

No. 219. — Crosby Davidson, aged 20, a Putter.

Thinks some children are sent down too young. Putting is the hardest work for young persons. He is now earning about 4s. 6d. a-day. A putter, if big enough, puts by himself; if not he is called a 'headsman' and is assisted by a little boy of 11 or 12, called a 'foal,' paying him 4½d. out of each shilling; or he has a 'half-marrow,' to whom he pays half his earnings. Or where the strata dip there is a 'helper-up' paid by the master. This helping tip is hard work and all this kind of work is sometimes over-hard for the young boys. Thinks the boys are generally healthy but very wicked, swearing and lying very much. About here the lads get more steady as they grow older. This witness. was examined at a night-school, where he was learning plain trigonometry, and was the master's first and favourite scholar.

No. 220. — Charles Johnson.

Aged 16. Is a craneman, that is, he hoists the corves upon the rolleys. Gets 2s. a-day. Works from half-past 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.

No. 220a. — William Orswell.

Aged 14 and 6 months. Drives rolleys; and gets 1s. 4½d. per day.

No. 220b. — William Dodds.

Aged 18. Is a putter, working by the piece; and makes 3s. 9d. a-day generally.

No. 220c. — James Wrightson.

Thirteen years old. Is a rolley driver, getting 1s. 4½d. a-day.

No. 220d. — Thomas Cockburn.

Aged 16. Is a putter, makes about 3s. 6d a-day on average.

These witnesses state that the putting is not very hard here, and the pit 'middling fair.' The putters think the first rank, or 80 yards, is paid 1s. 4d. a score. For holidays they get a fortnight at Christmas, and one or two days in the year — about two — as well as every other Saturday.

Two out of eight boys present go to night-school after work. Four can read [fairly]. Three can write their names. Four go to Sunday-school]. But, excepting Thomas Cockburn, they are as ignorant as usual and cannot be brought to make any further observations.