§ SIR SYDNEY WATERLOWasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the evidence given at the inquest on the bodies of the 43 persons killed by the recent explosion at Bunker's Hill Colliery, near Stoke, when three Government Inspectors expressed their condemnation of the use of gunpowder for blasting coal in firey mines during the time the colliers are at work; and, whether the Government intend to propose any measure this Session for protecting 1127 the lives of coal miners, by placing further restrictions on the use of gunpowder in blasting coal?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that the House might remember that he stated some time ago that he would take precisely the same course in the case of this unfortunate accident as he had felt it his duty to adopt last year in the case of the accident at Dukinfield. Accordingly, two Inspectors were present at the inquest, and a barrister of great experience also attended on his behalf to elicit all the circumstances connected with that terrible explosion. The latter gentleman had made a special and very important Report to him, containing certain valuable suggestions which deserved consideration. That Report would be laid on the Table, and in a few days he would see some Inspectors of Mines of great experience; but until he had seen those gentlemen he could not state the views of the Government as to what ought to be done.