§ Mr. T. Duncombereferred to the petition he had presented yesterday from 3,000 colliers of Durham, when he had stated that he would ask for further information today. The petitioners complained of the bad ventilation of coal mines, in consequence of which so many fatal accidents had occurred. The right hon. Home Secretary had sent down Commissioners to investigate the causes of a recent and most calamitous event of the kind; and the petitioners were anxious to know whether the attention of the Government had been directed to the subject, with a view to the introduction of a measure which may better secure the lives of persons employed in coal mines? If not, whether they would object to the appointment of a Select Committee to take the matter into consideration, and make the necessary inquiries? The petitioners seemed to be of opinion that inspectors ought to be appointed who had no local interest.
§ Sir J. Grahamobserved, that the disastrous case to which the hon. Member had referred, appeared to Government to require special investigation. Two men of science and reputation—Messrs. Faraday and Lyall — had, therefore, been sent down to make inquiries; and the hon. Member was probably aware, that they had made a Report in great detail as to the cause of the catastrophe—they had also suggested certain remedies. Copies of that Report had been sent down to the Lieutenants of counties in which coal mines existed, in order that they might be communicated to the coal-owners, and those coal-owners were invited to give any hints or information. Several objections had thus been stated, and reasons had been given why the proposed remedy would not be efficient or practicable. He had received within the last week three 727 Reports from the coal-owners of Tyne and Wear, suggesting remedies, and stating the reasons for the views they entertained as to some of the remedies which had been suggested by the Commissioners, and he had forwarded those Reports to Messrs. Faraday and Lyall. He could assure the hon. Member that the subject had received the anxious attention of the Government; and if the hon. Member would, at a future period of the Session, inquire the result of the investigations, he should be glad to give him all the information in his power.