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SIR,

In accordance with your instructions, I have held a formal investigation under Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, into the causes and circumstances of the explosion which occurred in the No. 3 North District, Main Band Seam, Haig Pit, Whitehaven Colliery, Whitehaven, Cumberland, about 8.15 p.m. on Thursday, 29th January, 1931, whereby 27 persons lost their lives and 13 others were injured, and I now have the honour to report as follows

My Inquiry was held in the Congregational School Room, Scotch Street, Whitehaven. The proceedings were opened on the morning of Tuesday, 17th February, and concluded on the following Friday, 20th February.

At the Inquiry, the owners of the Colliery (Messrs. The Whitehaven Colliery Company Limited) were represented by Major A. C. Scoular arid Mr. J. Hope Brown; Mr. E. Edwards, M.P. appeared for the Miners' Federation of Great Britain; Mr. T. Cape, M.P., Mr. J. R. Barker and Mr. James Martin for the Cumberland Miners' Association: Mr. W. T. Miller for the General Federation of Firemen's, Examiners' and Deputies' Assocations of Great Britain; Mr. P. Murtagh and Mr. H. Skerry for the Cumberland Colliery Officials' Association; and the Hon. Henn Collins for certain other interested parties. Mr. R. W. Glass represented the Institution of Mining Engineers, and Professor R. V. Wheeler the Safety in Mines Research Board.

Mr. T. Greenland Davies, H.M. Inspector of Mines in charge of the Northern Division, appeared for the Mines Department and with him were Mr. A. M. Bryan and Mr. W. B. Brown, H.M. Senior and Junior Inspector of Mines respectively.