§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will instruct counsel to attend the coroner's inquest about to be held to ascertain the cause of death of the forty-two persons who lost their lives in the Bunker's Hill Colliery, North Stafford, on the 30th ultimo; whether he is aware that up till a recent period the coal was all worked without the use of blasting powder, and if it was only so got by the miners or colliers; and, whether he will state if a change in the mode of working has been made, it is done with the consent and full concurrence of the District Inspector?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he had already stated that the fullest inquiry should be made as to the causes of this lamentable catastrophe. He had nothing to add to that, except that precisely the same course would be taken in this case as was adopted in the case of the Dukinfield explosion, and other similar cases, and which had proved entirely satisfactory to everybody concerned. With regard to the two latter parts of the Question, he had caused inquiries to be made, but had not yet received the answers.