Sir,

On 20th December, 1946, you directed that in pursuance of Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, a formal Investigation should be held into the causes and circumstances of the explosion which occurred in the Main Band Seam of the Harrington No. 10 Mine, Lowca, Cumberland, on the 9th December, 1946, and appointed me as Commissioner to hold the Investigation.

Having held the Investigation in accordance with these directions I now have the honour to report thereon.

By arrangement with Lieutenant-Colonel D. J. Mason, D.S.O., T.D., D.L., H.M. Coroner for West Cumberland, the Inquiry was held concurrently with the adjourned Inquest in The Congregational Church Schoolrooms, Whitehaven, commencing on 25th February and terminating on 1st March, 1947, at which thirty-two witnesses gave evidence.

The appearances were as follows :–

	Mr. A. Stoker, H.M. Divisional Inspector of Mines Mr. G. M. Harvey, H.M. Electrical Inspector of Mines Mr. P. G. Dominy, H.M. District Inspector of Mines	For the Ministry of Fuel and Power
	Mr. Paul E. Sandlands, K.C. Mr. G. R. Swanwick (Instructed by Messrs. Brockbank, Helder and Ormrod)	For the United Steel Companies Ltd.
	Mr. W. E. Jones Mr. E. Moore Mr. R. Young	for the National Union of Mineworkers
	Mr. Tom Stephenson	for the Cumberland Miners’ Association
	Mr. Barth Walsh Mr. Harry Skerry Mr. John W. Foster	for the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers
	Mr. W. Unsworth Mr. A. B. Dawson	for the National Association of Colliery Managers
	Mr. W. F. Richardson Mr. R. Crawford	for the National Coal Board

A list of the witnesses is given in Appendix I and a list of the persons killed and injured in Appendix II.

My thanks are due to Colonel Mason for so cordially agreeing to the Joint Inquiry and for his helpful co-operation; also to the representatives of the various parties, including the Colliery Surveyor, who contributed to the efficient and smooth running of the proceedings, and to Mr. H. Offord who acted as Clerk of the Court.

At the conclusion of the evidence the Coroner summed up at some length and recorded his verdict that the cause of death in each case was due to the result of an explosion of gas on 9th December, 1946, and that the men met their deaths by misadventure.