§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it be correct that the Mine in which the explosion occurred at Kilsyth, N.B., a few days ago, gave off gas freely, and yet, in the Rules exhibited for the proper discipline of the persons employed in the Mine, there was no provision prohibiting the use of naked lights?
THE LORD ADVOCATE,in reply, said, that according to the best information that the Government had been able to obtain, this mine, when first opened, gave off gas; but two or three years ago a communication was made with the second shaft, and then safety lamps, which up to that time had been used, were dispensed with, and they were not in use again up to the occurrence of the recent accident. The prime cause of this was reported to be, not an explosion in the mine, but a fire in the down cast shaft, which reversed the air course, and produced one or two small explosions in the mine, the result of which barred the way against 16 men, and prevented them reaching the bank in safety. He had been unable to discern any evidence of explosions in the mine, fatal or otherwise, after the communication with a second shaft was opened. His information was that, since that date, naked lights have been used in the mine, and no ease of explosion had occurred.
§ MR. MACDONALDgave Notice that he should again ask whether there had not been two previous explosions attended with loss of life?