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VENTILATION.

The colliery was at the time of the explosion ventilated by an exhausting Waddle Fan, 25 feet in diameter, usually running at 85 revolutions per minute, placed near the up-cast shaft and connected with it by an arched tunnel. The total quantity of air extracted by this fan when last measured in the fan drift on the 27th September, 1906, amounted to 193,478 cubic feet per minute.

Fresh air currents from the surface entered the various seams from the downcast shaft, with the exception of the current ventilating the Five Quarter seam, which entered that seam from the Main Coal seam.

On the 27th September, 1906, the quantity of air measured in various splits in the seams amounted to 155,138 cubic feet per minute under a water gauge of 3 inches.

At the end of the week when the men left the mine the revolutions of the fan were slightly reduced, the water gauge being reduced from 3 inches to 28.0 inches.

This was done as was customary on Saturday, 13th October, and the fan worked at reduced revolutions until an hour or so before the explosion on Sunday night, 14th October, when the water gauge was again raised to 3 inches.

At first the impression was upon my mind that this reduction in the speed I of the fan, extending from about 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon till about 10 or 11 o'clock on Sunday night, during which time the air circulating in the mine was necessarily diminished, might have some bearing upon the cause the explosion.

Upon further strict examination of the witnesses I became satisfied that this was not so.

All the witnesses agreed that the mine when the men were working in it required more ventilation than at the times when the men were out of the mine, also that the amount of reduction of air was very small, that the system of reducing the ventilation had been adopted for years, and that abundant ventilation, even at such times, had always been found to exist.

I was confirmed in my view that the ventilation was not in any way defective by the evidence of the officials to the effect that until about 3 years ago the mine was ventilated by a fan of much less power, which produced slightly more than 100,000 cubic feet of air per minute. This fan was found to ventilate the mine well, and was only replaced by the more powerful Waddle fan, because the foundations of the former had been found to be insecure.

I am therefore of opinion that the ventilation of the mine, both before and at the time of the explosion, was sufficient.

SAFETY LAMPS.

Safety lamps were used by all the workmen at all the working places in the seams. These appear to have been of a satisfactory description and securely fastened.

On the main haulage road, in the Low Main seam only, certain naked lights were used, but only as far as the caution boards, which are shown on the plan, and at each of which a red lamp was hung during the time the ordinary shifts of hewers were in the pit.

COAL DUST.

There can be little doubt that the origin of the explosion was in the main haulage way of the Low Main seam. This way was described by several witnesses as "not particularly dusty," but they all admitted "some dust" was to be found on the roof, sides, and roadway.

The evidence showed this dust came largely from the screening of the coal from the Hutton and Harvey seams, near the top of the down-cast shaft, which was within the influence of the air descending that shaft, and thus carried down with it, and some part carried in-bye to the main haulage roads.

In addition, there was the dust which for a considerable period had been blown from the trucks of coal when being drawn on the main haulage road against the air current. There was also a certain quantity of dust blown from the loaded tubs while being raised in the down-cast shaft.

All the evidence seemed to show that the main haulage road, at all events some part of it, was the most dusty part of the Low Main seam.

WATERING.

The main haulage roads of the mine were said by the officials of the mine to have been kept watered, but on examination it appeared that the watering consisted only of drawing tanks of water along the road and letting the water run out by the removal of a plug at the end of the tanks, and sometimes scattering the water by means of a pail or similar utensil over the whole roadway. No attempt was ever made to water the roof or sides of the main haulage roads.

I am satisfied that there was on the main haulage way of the Low Main seam, at the time of the explosion. a considerable quantity of dust, both on the roof, sides and road, the accumulation of many years, and that this dust, at all events on the roof and sides, was dry.

The expert witnesses being questioned as to the propriety or otherwise of watering the roof and sides of the main haulage ways, agreed that where it could be done it was very advisable, but they said in some cases it would be attended with danger. In their opinion, if the roof and sides were composed of a certain kind of stone, the effect of continual watering might cause them to bulge and lead to "falls."

The manager of the mine, Mr. William Armstrong, gave his opinion to the effect that the roof and sides of the main haulage way in the Low Main seam could not be kept constantly damp without some such risks being incurred.

The dynamic effects of the explosion were chiefly felt in the Low Main seam, as shown upon the plan, and to some small extent into the Main Coal seam.

Four men received injuries probably occasioning their deaths from the force of the explosion itself.

The names of these men were Maddison, Bloomfield, Elliott and Dixon.

The deaths of all the other men were occasioned by after-damp or chokedamp.

A list of all the men who were killed by the explosion, and the causes of their deaths, is set out as an appendix to the Report of the Inspectors.