§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been directed to an inquiry before a coroner's jury, which appeared in the "Western Mail" of the 6th inst., touching the death of a man named David Davies, who died from the effects of being roasted by firedamp in a mine known as the "Rob-ling, belonging to R. T. Crawshay, Cyfartha, and in respect to which the jury brought in the following verdict:—
We find that deceased came to his death from an explosion of gas in the Roblings Mine Pit on the 17th March, and we consider that if the owners had employed a competent person to examine the works before the men went in, or placed a door in such a place before the explosion occurred to direct the air in the manner they have done since, the explosion would not have occurred;and, if, considering the finding of the jury, has or will he direct a prosecution against the owner for the violation of "The Mines Inspection Act, 1872?"
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, the Inspector of Mines informed him that, in his opinion, the manager of the Roblings Pit Mine, in which a fatal explosion took place on the 17th March, had been guilty of a breach of one of the general rules. He (Mr. Cross) had, therefore, directed proceedings to be taken against him.