§ MR. J. ROWLANDSon behalf of Mr. FENWICK, Northumberland, Wansbeck)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the following statement, which appeared in the Daily News of Tuesday, 12th instant, namely—
That three men were drowned yesterday in the Talacre and Gronant Lead Mine in Flintshire by water from an old working breaking in upon them. A fourth man narrowly escaped;and whether there was any reason to suspect that the mine was approaching old workings; if so, whether the precautionary 976 measures provided for in General Rule 13 of the Mines Act of 1887 were duly observed?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am informed by the Inspector that the body of water was known to exist, and the working was being made for the purpose of tapping it. General Rule 13 of the Coal Mines Act does not apply to metalliferous mines, but advance bore-holes, though not compulsory under the Act, had been ordered by the agent. Until the evidence is heard before the coroner and the mine is pumped out it will be impossible to say how far the order had been obeyed, or whether the provisions of the Act had been disregarded in any way.