§ MR. E. J. REEDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to an article in "Engineering" of August 4, stating that the steam gauge on the boiler that exploded in the "Thunderer" was known, before the explosion occurred, to be out of order; but that the engineers went on trusting to the gauges on the other boilers telling them what the pressure was in this one, and giving numerous facts and particulars respecting the explosion, into none of which has the Coroner yet instituted any inquiry; and, whether, considering that the repeated postponement of the official inquiry into all such facts and particulars, until they may be in part forgotten by the witnesses, and in part obscured by subsequent discussions in the Press, tends to defeat the objects of the inquest, he would inform the House if the executive Government or the Crown have the power to secure a prompt and full examination of those witnesses who were present at the explosion?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, in order to ensure that there shall be a perfectly impartial and full inquiry, with the consent of the Treasury I have 1073 placed at the disposal of the Coroner funds to provide for scientific witnesses with regard to the boilers, and also a legal assessor to assist him in the inquiry, making it the sole condition that the appointment should be vested entirely with him, and that the Government should have nothing whatever to do with it. I think I should, be going out of my way if I interfered with the discretion of the Coroner, either as to the time of taking the inquiry or the calling of witnesses.