No. 350. — William Anderson, viewer of South Shields, (or Manor Wallsend, or St. Hilda's) colliery.

Does not think that any shortening, of hours is necessary for children. They sometimes go too soon down the pit. Eight or nine years of age is soon enough for any boy to go down pits. There are no places where the putters go that need be less than 4½ feet in height, there are probably few places where the height is less than 4 feet in South Shields pit, or Manor Wallsend colliery; the corf is a 20 pecks and holding 6 cwt. of coals, the corf being 1 cwt. and 1 quarter about. About 7½ cwt. will be the weight in general of the tram that is put; they are put by one boy alone mostly. If a lad of about 16 or 17 he can put a tram by himself, if a strong lad, but not before that age; the full corves are all put down hill in general. The general inclination of the seam will be about 2 inches in the yard and the empty corf is taken up hill; the helping up here costs about a third of the putting. the seam being rather wavy. The helpers up are boys and men; the men are labourers and Irishmen, not regular pitmen for this purpose. This is necessary from the undulation of the seam; the Bensham seam is mostly this way. At Heworth and Whitley colliery the putting may be easier than at South Shields. The putters are not in general very tired and are not hard worked, nor are they working all the time they are down. There are no foals in Manor Wallsend pit, all half marrows and headsmen; there is but little drawing with soams. The drivers are mostly the class of boys suffering from accidents by their own mischief. Is not working much in broken. There may be about 30 Davy lamps, there being only 16 hewers working in the broken. Some few lads, drivers and putters, have Davy lamps besides. Boys go in above a mile bye in one half in the other half about half a mile. There is an inclined plane. or an engine plane, of about 1 000 yards long. An underground engine of 30 horse pulls the waggons (full) up nearly to the shaft. Nothing is likely to be done to lessen the amount of human labour in collieries. Boys must be employed to drive and men to hew. The old system, 40 years ago, was to use more horses where the seam was high, the corf was brought out upon a sledge by horses; then there was a great destruction of horses.

You seldom see a red-faced pitman and seldom a consumptive pitman. The seams in Whitley colliery are the Low Main coal and are about from 3 feet 4 inches to 3 feet 8 inches for a merchantable coal, being altogether from 4 to 4½ feet thick and the heights about 4½ feet. The top is taken down for lime-burning. There are about 5 or 6 men working in the broken there. The under viewer, Mr. Clavering, was putting a fire out in the pit and from the explosion of a blower was burnt so badly that he died shortly after, this was about the beginning of April. In South Shields pit there is a great deal of gas in the Bensham seam, the only one there worked. As to the distance the putters put from 1 yard distance to 200 yards; the long distance is disadvantageous to the employers. The youngest boy putting, as a half-marrow, will be about 14 years of age. Relays of children must be for 6 hours each, in at all and they must halve their wages or double the price of coals. The great difficulty of refusing young children is from the pressing entreaties of parents, but thinks the children are well treated in general.

South Shields, 20 years ago, was a most moral place and not such a thing as a prostitute was seen in the streets; now it is a wicked place. There are three times as many schools and very much more pains taken to get children educated, and yet the place is more wicked. Of course near a town like Shields the colliery boys will be vastly more immoral than in a distant district, from the vice around them.

With the present hours of pit work no one could suggest any means of adding to the schooling of boys, excepting getting them to Sunday schools, and many do go there; but parents will make any excuse to get them to work, saving they are bad learners and truants, &c. They do not work double shift at this pit; only the men for repairs go down at right. Very few collieries are working night shifts, as it is unprofitable; they cannot get coals so clean, and have to light up, &c. About 6 or 7 moved at the last binding.

No. 351. — Edward Gregory.

Turned of 13. Helps up, gets 1s. 6d. a-day for that. Has been down this pit 4 years. Kept a door for the first year; cleaned the way for the next year and a-half: after that drove for a year. Then began to help up. Goes in bye a mile and a-half. Called at half-past 4 o'clock to get up, and on baff Saturday's at half-past 2 o'clock. Then gets up and gets some coffee and a bit of bread. Then goes down the pit, perhaps about half-past 5 o'clock; starts work at 6 o'clock. Takes baits in a bag down with him; takes a bite now and then. Leaves work at 6 o'clock; sometimes it is 7 o'clock before he gets to bank. Helps up all day down the pit; helps up a heavy place; there are other places steeper. Helps up the trains from one bord; used to help up from 2 bords; did so last week. Always helped up from 2 bords till this week or so. It was harder work then. Used to help up 68 trains in a day then. Each 2 hewers hewed 34 trams in a day. The men are now in another place, and they hew 28 trains a day; each pair of hewers hew 28 trains in a day there; hence he has very easy work now for a short time; this will last this week perhaps. Used to help up, by the aid of the putter, 68 trains a day; got no more wages for this. A lad above him helps up trains for 8 men; he is about 15 years of age; his name is Thomas Bewick. Is so tired when he works hard as scarcely to be able to walk after work. Witnesses 'dips' are heavy-pushes up. The place is just about his own height, the air is good. His back and legs work sore. Sometimes feels sickish. Never threw up his victuals but once, 6 weeks ago, with the heat. The smoke, when they were firing the shots, made him sick. Head works with the same thing. Feet are sore, are skinned with the salt water and the coals getting into his shoes. Has to lay his own plates when the plate-laying lad is not there; this takes about 10 minutes laying a length; sometimes lays two lengths or three lengths. Has to set the spare trams on for the barrow-men or putters when they go out, and the hewers fill them against the putters come in again. Putters never have time or take time to do this. When he is helping for two hewers he fills for them, and then he gets soon done, sometimes as soon as 4 o'clock. Can read fairly; can write his name. Goes to no week school now. Went to day and night-school before he went to the pit. Went to school at 4 years old, and kept there till he went to work at 8 years old. Goes to Sunday-school now regularly, to the Ranters' chapel; goes to chapel afterwards. Has once now and then, when anything was the matter, as the rolley getting off the way, &c., been down the pit 14 hours. Once was obliged to stop the night shift and the day, a lad was wanting. The lads marrow asked him to stop; stopped to please him; got paid for it. Would not stop again. Made him very bad, his inside worked. Had no bait all that night, could get no one to send home. Rollies ran over his foot and he was off two days.

No. 352. — Robert Mackenzie.

Aged 14. Drives and helps up at sometimes. Has been down the pit four years. Kept a door two years; then drove for a year; then cleaned the way for a year; then helped up in a very steep place. Thinks it was an inch to a yard dip. Helped the putters to shove up. Sometimes made him bad, whenever there was any long stop he got cold by stopping when he was in a sweat. Seldom felt sick. Felt his back and arms and neck work with shoving sometimes, not always or often. Rollies ran over him once and he was off half a-year; was lame all that time, is not lame now, has marks in his legs yet. Has been jammed sometimes, and been off a few days. Stops down the pit now once a week, double shift, all day and all night, from 6 o'clock in the morning till 6 the next night, to drive for the men filling out the water. Comes to work again the following morning at half-past 5. Another lad besides him does that; he is 14 years old and is called Ralph Hall. This makes him bad, has to go up to his knees water part of the time; goes out of the water with the galloway. The master, Mr. Anderson, asks him to do that, does not refuse, because he durst not. Has a brother 8 years old down the pit, he has been down a year. Father is a hewer down this pit. Witness can read a little; reads an easy book, cannot write. Goes to no school at all. Went to the Sunday-school regular about a fortnight since. Goes to a Ranters' meeting often, not every Sunday.

No. 353. — William Johnson.

Says he is 10 years old, but does not appear above 8 or 9 years of age. Leads out a horse. Has been down the pit 8 weeks. Has two brothers, one a putter and the other a half-marrow, down this pit. Mother made him go down the pit. Wanted to go down to make money. Likes his work. Lads pay him (strike him) sometimes, not very often. Knock him down sometimes, make him cry, hurt him sometimes. Has no father here, he is in America. His brother, aged 15. brings him up the pit. Goes in a mile. Comes out with the putters. Is not frightened. Is sometimes sick of a night-time. Feels tired and sleepy sometimes. Is aside the putters all day. There is less boys than him down the pit, some go down when they are 7 years old. Frazer's two boys are not more than 7 years old, one was not 7 when he went down. He keeps a door. He is very little. He has been down about half a year. He is about 8 now. Witness cannot read or write. Goes only to a Sun day school now. Did go to a school in the week days before he went down. Gets as much as he wants to eat.

April 21. Twenty-three Witnesses assembled.

No. 354. — Joseph Hamilton.

Between 14 and 15. Is a helper up. Gets 1s. 6d. a-day. Goes to work; that is, is at the bottom of the pit at 6 o'clock; goes to work directly. Caller calls the men, but not the lads. Gets breakfast before he goes, not much, because he has not time: if he got up earlier, he could get more, but some have not much to get, because their fathers cannot afford it. A year and a half ago there were 52 killed in this pit; the pit fired. Some of the boys therefore are now without fathers. Takes baits down with him-bread, pastie, coffee. Sometimes has the whole eaten before 12 o'clock; sometimes cannot eat it all; cannot get time. Is worked on all the time. Many times cannot get a drink: there is none in the pit to get there is plenty of salt water. Sometimes his work is over bard for him, whiles he helps up a very steep place, according to what place he gets to. Feels sore tired sometimes. Has been once lamed and was off 6 weeks. Has good general health. Can read only an easy book; can write his name. Goes only to Sunday-school.

Several witnesses, including Nos. 354 to 358, were examined together, and made to explain and confirm each the evidence of the other.

No. 355. — William Clark.

Aged 14. Helper up. Gets 1s. 6d. a-day. Went to work at 12 as a way cleaner, getting 1s. 3d a-day. Always down the pit at or before half past 5; the pit starts work at 6. Gets a sup of coffee before he goes, and bread; takes down the same with him, or apple pasties; eats them all before 12 o'clock; gets nothing more till he gets home: often feels hungry before he gets home. Could take down more victuals but does not think of it. When he gets home, at from 6 to 7 (p.m.), gets coffee and bacon and fish and potatoes, different on different nights, then washes and goes to bed.

His work is hard. Sometimes the putters do not grease the trains; sometimes they do not shove bard enough. Has so much to do; likes to help up when he has not overmuch work. It is harder a vast at sometimes than others. Sometimes strains his shoulders; is never laid off but is whiles very tired. The drivers are badly used by the putters; the putters hide them on every occasion. If the rollies get off the way, the putters hide them and if the horses go either too fast or not fast enough. They hide them with sticks, coif-sticks, slit deals, sometimes with whips. Often the drivers and trappers get so bad beat by the putters as to be obliged to go home.

No. 356. — William Dinnis.

Aged about 10. Often is bided by the putters with bits of sticks; nobody but the putters hide them in general. If the trappers get the door broke, then the deputy hides them. This it is a good bit in bye; perhaps a mile and more. Most of the witnesses have to walk that distance before they get to work. Sixteen men work in the broken here, and about 6 or 7 putters They will offer sometimes 20s. to other men to change places with them, and sometimes they will not take it. None of the witnesses work in the broken. Many boys are frightened to go so far in bye; the air will not carry so far. All would sooner work the long hours than have any wages lessened. None would go down the pit except for the wages.

No. 357. — James Forsyth.

Is not above 7 years of age; and he is a trapper. His father was killed in the explosion. (This is the youngest boy down the pit; he is very little, and he is unfit to go down a pit.) He goes in very far bye. If any accident were to happen he could not get out. This is a very hot pit in bye. Putting is the hardest work for boys. There are 6 galloways to help up down this pit. Was down at the explosion a year and a half ago: it came like a heavy wind; it blew all the candles out and the small coal about; and it blew Richard Cooper down and the door upon him.

No. 358. — Richard Cooper.

Was cut in the head, not very bad; he would have been lost but one of the putters carried him out bye. It was just like somebody getting hold of their breeches and pulling them down. Is bad in the health sometimes, from different things, having had the fever and small pox.

Of 9 boys, 6 boys have had rather serious accidents.

No. 359. — Roland Brush.

Aged 15. Was run over by the rolleys and was ripped up in his belly and was off a year all but a week; is bad yet, and will never be quite well.

This is the worst accident of the number.

Of 8 boys, 4 can read easy books: can write their names. All go to Sunday-school but not regularly; none go to night-school.

Some of these witnesses threw up their meat from their stomachs while in the pit, Roland Brush threw it up very often. Drinking so much water helps to make him do this. Their heads often work, back sometimes work, their legs sometimes feel weak.

No. 360. — April 26. John Jones.

Between 8 and 9 years old. Has been here 3 weeks. Keeps a door. Gets 10d. a-day. Goes down the pit about 6 o'clock. Is called and gets up about 5 o'clock. His duty is to open and shut a door. Goes in about a mile bye. Door is in the tram way; sits behind and pulls it with a cord. Gets breakfast before he goes; a sup of tea and bread and butter, as much as he wants. Takes down baits with him: cakes with currants in, and water. Never goes away or stops to get his baits; gets them at any time. Comes up the pit at 6 o'clock, sometimes nigh 7. Never worked longer than 7 o'clock. Pains come in his legs some times; came this morning as be was going to work, a little bit after 5 o'clock. There are pains in his legs, smarting upon his knee. Has had these pains before he went down the pit. Has had those sort of pains this long time, about 2 years. Had them when he was at school about a month ago, at Sunday-school and on the work-a-days. Cannot read nor write. Goes to no night-school. goes to Sunday-school every Sunday.

No. 361. — Richard Cooper.

Going to 12. Drives. Gets 1s. 3d. a-day. Goes to work between 5 and 6. Mother calls him up when she hears the clock strike. Comes up the pit between 6 and 7. Seven o'clock is the latest he was ever up. Has been working here nearly 3 years. Kept a door when he first went down between 8 and 9 years of age. Kept a door for a year, then began to drive. He worked double shift was last Friday night but one. He went down about 6 on the Friday morning and came up between 1 and 2 o'clock on the Friday night, in the middle of the night, thus working 20 hours. His father and the rolley-way men were stopping to fill up the mud from the rolley way, it being dirty. The muck was taken to bank. He likes to stop a double shift sometimes, as he gets two pays of 1s. 3d. each. Got 2s 6d. for this double shift. was paid him on the last Friday night, which was pay night. Gave the money to his father. Gets 2d. for pocket money every fortnight. Whenever they stop that way to draw the mud to bank, one boy always has to stop to drive the horse. If he had not a mind for to stop he could go and another lad would be got. Did not feel sick afterwards, but felt tired about his body and legs. Had the small-pox the Monday after this misfortune happened, a year a half ago and has had the fever. From these things has been weak ever since, in legs, arms, and back. Sweats sore, and is short of breath. Was well in health before he went down the pit and was well in health before he had the small-pox and fever &c. Caught small-pox from his sister. Has never been beat since he was a trapper, when the putters used to baste him sore if he would not give them candles and clay. Had to buy candles for his own use when he was a trapper. All the drivers get their candles found them, but trappers do not.

Can read an easy book and the Testament, but cannot write his name, or write at all. Goes to no night-school, but goes to two Sunday-schools, one in the afternoon, at the Ranters's and one in the morning, at the Methodists.

Has one brother of 3 years old. Father greases the rolleys down the pit. Would like to go to a night-school if he could get to one.

No. 362. — Isaac Brown.

Aged 9 years. Keeps a rolley-way door. Gets 1s. a-day. Has been in the pits 3 weeks. Goes in bye about a mile. Is down the pit at very nigh 6 o'clock every morning. Comes up sometimes at 5 or 6, sometimes very nigh 7 o'clock, but does not know rightly. Has the other boys say it was nigh 7 o'clock. Comes up with the other boys at all times and never stops down longer. Grandfather works in the pit as a shifter. His father works in a factory down by the Slake, where they make lead and stuff. Has no brother. Is so sick, not very often. Threw up his meat twice. Made himself sick by swinging on the rope of his door. Can read the Testament; can write his name, and copy heads. Does not go to no night-school. Goes to two Sunday-schools regular.

No. 363. — Roger Young.

Aged about 11 years. Drives. Has been down the pit near about 2 years. Kept a door when he first went down, Gets 1s. 3d. a-day now. Was lamed once, and was kept of fortnight. Corves squeezed his head. Is down the pit ready to start at 6 o'clock. Comes up the pit about 6, and from that to 7 o'clock. Gets a sup of coffee and bread before goes. Takes down baits with him, a bit of bread and coffee. Could sometimes eat more. Head works sometimes when he gets a 'bat,' or when he has not time to take his baits gets the head work directly almost. Sometimes feels tired in his legs. Has no father. Get 'bats' sometimes and thumps sometimes; putters do it. Can read an easy book, cannot write. Goes only to Sunday-school. Went to a night-school for a week or so.

No. 364. — Thomas Fawcett.

Aged 12 or 13. Drives. Gets 1s. 3d. Has been in the pit about 2 years. First kept a door. Works from about 6 o'clock to about half past 6 or 7 down the pit. Goes in bye sometimes about 2 miles, generally a mile or so, or a mile and a half to the bottom of the incline. Drives the rolleys all day long. Takes baits down with him; cannot always get as much as he wants to eat, for his mother has 4 lads, and two of them are little bairns. His other brother who is about 7 or 5 years old, is keeping a door. Has 3 sisters. Father was killed by the pit; he lived 11 days after the accident. Mother gets something from the parish he thinks. Feels tired some nights. His head works now and then. Arms work sometimes. Back works when he is stooping sore, but does not stoop often. Only stoops to get the limmers on. Many a night he falls sick, and he many a time throws up his meat when he is in bed. Sometimes feels had and sick in the morning, whiles he feels a pain in his side he feels this most when he is a-bed. Has the doctor sometimes. Got lamed a good bit since and was laid off work about 3 weeks or so. His leg was jammed last week, but it did not lay him off The barrowman and the putter sometimes thump him to make him look sharp; sometimes with corf sticks across the back. Sometimes falls down when the putters hit him. Cannot read or write. Goes only sometimes to a Sunday-school; not to a church or chapel.

No. 365. — Robert Richardson.

Aged 9 years. keeps a door and leads a horse out to get the corves put on the rolley. Gets ls. a-day. Goes to work at about half-past 5 o'clock. Is down the pit ready to start by 6 o'clock. Comes up at latest about 7 o'clock. Gets enough to eat; always as much as he wants to eat. Has been down near two years. Went down when he was very little more than 7 years of age. Knows some that go down as young, and some younger than he did. Having to lead the horses he does not sit so much as other door-keepers. Sometimes feels tired, and could many a time take a good sleep when he is down the pit. Sometimes falls asleep; but always wakens before the rolleys come. Has sometimes pains in his knees, often in his side. Belly works sometimes. Had some pains before he went down pits; the same mile pains. Sometimes feels sick. If ever he eats any beans he is bad. Goes in bye a mile and more. Seldom gets beaten. Little finger end was cut off by the rollies, jammed off. A lad threw a stone at his leg, a half brick, when he was at bank one day and the stone broke his leg. Kept him off half a year. Had his leg lamed down the pit three-quarters of a year since. Kept him off a month. Rollies squeezed a plank end against his leg. Cannot read or write. Goes to a Sunday-school regularly and to chapel sometimes.