§ 3. Mr. NEIL MACLEAN (for Mr. DUNCAN GRAHAM)asked the Secretary for Mines the last day on which an inspector of mines visited the Ross Colliery, Hamilton; whether, on the occasion of his visit, he made any inquiry into the ventilation of the colliery; and was he satisfied that it was in good condition?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe most recent underground inspection of the workings was on 30th May, and it covered the Pyotshaw seam. The ventilation was found to be satisfactory except for small accumulations of gas in three cavities at roadheads, and steps were taken immediately to remove this gas by hurdle sheets. The fireman was questioned and asserted that these cavities had been free of gas at the time of his inspection.
§ 4. Mr. MACLEAN (for Mr. D. GRAHAM)asked the Secretary for Mines the date upon which an explosion occurred at Ross Colliery, Hamilton, by which a miner named Malcolm MacCormack was killed; and whether there was any correspondence or interviews between the management of the colliery and any of His Majesty's inspectors of mines with the object of avoiding a prosecution?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe explosion occurred on 4th March last and the inspectors of mines were certainly not parties to correspondence or discussion of any kind, with the object of avoiding a prosecution. On the contrary, the divisional inspector made thorough investi- 1742 gations with a view to prosecuting the management, but the available evidence proved to be insufficient.