§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he can state when or how long it is since the district Inspector of Mines visited the Wood Pit, Haydock Colliery; if he made a searching examination; and, if he will lay the notes of that inspection or inspections upon the Table of the House?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, I can only give the information I have received from the Inspector in this case. He says that the last time he was at this mine was on the 27th September, 1876. He goes on to say—
There has not teen any fatal accident at the pit since the 1st July, 1873. I am familiar with, the system of management adopted by Mr. Chadwick, the general manager of the Haydock Collieries, which consist of 12 pits, several of which are working difficult and dangerous seams. I have devoted what time I could to the inspection of those which seemed to require it during the last three years. Twelve thorough underground inspections and 23 visits of inquiry have been made by myself to the pits at the Haydock Colliery, but the opinion I have formed of their management and the precautions enforced are very favourable. The Wood Pit is another seam, and one in which such a calamity is least likely to occur of any of the pits belonging to the Haydock Colliery.