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Home Office,

Whitehall, S.W.,

21st August, 1913.

Sir,

In accordance with your request, we have investigated the causes of, and circumstances surrounding, the mysterious explosion which occurred at the Auckland Park Colliery, in the County of Durham, on the early morning of October 27th of last year, and we would like to explain that the delay in furnishing our report has been due to the, fact that as there was, fortunately, no one in the seam at the time of the explosion, there were no lives lost, and little or no evidence of witnesses was available. It was, therefore, the more necessary that every possible indication respecting force and burning, abrasion of electrical cables, &c., as shown on the roadways of the mine should be noted, and this necessitated the careful clearing of the roads, work which has taken months to accomplish. Numerous inspections were made by Mr. Nicholson and his staff, and the Chief Inspector also made two inspections underground. Having now accumulated all available evidence, we have the honour to report as follows :—

On Sunday, October 27th, at about 2 a.m., a violent explosion of coal dust, either with or without firedamp, occurred at the Auckland Park Colliery, belonging to Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Co., Ltd., but fortunately it was unattended with loss of life or injury to any person.

The explosion took place in the Harvey Seam, the damage being practically confined to that level. So considerable was the explosion that had it occurred while persons were at work in the seam the loss of life would, without doubt, have been very great.