§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it be correct that at sundry times shortly before the explosion of the mine belonging to Knowles and Son, Limited, at Darcy Lever by Bolton, some of the coal hewers had to return home from the presence of gas in the mine; and, whether, considering the peculiar circumstances of the management in the inspection of the mine, that he will order that the inquest be watched by some other person than the inspector, in the public interest?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that he could only learn from the agent and manager of the Darcy Lever mine that they knew of no gas having accumulated for several months prior to the explosion which took place there. Unfortunately, the report book which would have shown the daily state of the ventilation was very nearly destroyed by the second explosion, and they had now no means of getting at the facts. The last accumulation of gas which they could find out to have existed was on the 21st of June, 1876. In his opinion it was as much to the interest of the owners of the mine as it was to that of the public that a public inquiry should be made. Ho had followed the course which was usual to him in such matters. He had given instructions that counsel on behalf of the Home Office should attend the inquest.