No. 399. — Mr. Robson, resident viewer of Hetton Colliery.

It would be desirable to limit the age at which children go to work in mines, in order to afford them the opportunity of getting instruction at school; 10 years the youngest.

The effect of limiting the hours, of less than 12 hours per day, say from 4 to 4, or from 5 to 5, of labour, would be injurious both to the employer and the employed, and enhance the value of fuel to the consumer; the condition of the workmen would be bettered by limiting the age rather than the hours of labour, if even the minimum age was more than 10 years. If boys under 13 years of age were limited to less than 12 hours per day working, such boys would probably not be employed at all.

Knows no plan for the amelioration of the pitmen or their children, thinking that as much is done as can be effected for their physical and moral improvement. The children at Hetton, Elemore, Eppleton, and Whitwell Collieries pay each 1.5d. a-week for instruction, and a halfpenny for books. The owners paying the other necessary expense adding in some cases private subscriptions. They usually endeavour to secure to the master a minimum of Ј35. per annum and to the mistress Ј25. There is not a general desire amongst the parents for education, nor are they disposed to pay 2d. a-week for it per child. Boys of 16, 17, or Is, will not commonly be found to retain their education.

The women generally have the entire direction of the household and they are generally good managers.

Many pit men save a great deal by making and mending shoes for their families and the shoes are often well made. They also make occasionally furniture, as drawers, even with circular fronts, chairs, book-cases, and clock-cases. These cabinet-making men may possibly average 1 in 30. Lads and boy's do not cultivate handicraft much.

Men and boys spend much time in the summer in their gardens, of which two or even three are sometimes allotted to large families.

The women seldom keep shops but often in harvest-time go out to agricultural labour, however neglecting their household duties.

The general average earnings of hewers are 23s. per week. The general average earnings of putters are 20s. per week.

The general average earnings of rolley-drivers are 7s. a-week. The general average earnings of trappers are 10d. a-day.

Banksmen formerly were a bad class; prone to hard drinking, &c. but are now greatly formed. A marked improvement has taken place in the last 15 years.

Cricketing and quoits arc favourite games now when any are played.

Has observed no difference in the clothing of pit people in summer and winter.

If 2 boy's put as half-marrows, they are considered as one and still have the same help, that is a helper-up. Half-marrow's are so placed that the sum of the strength of the two half-marrows shall about equal the strength of an older boy. The boys agree between themselves as to this arrangement. In the returns of the tabular forms, half-marrow's are called putters. When the greatest weight in those pits, viz_ 12 cwt. 3 qrs. 14 lbs. is put by one boy, the wheels are larger and the rails are round topped rails. The wheels, too, are differently constructed, so that there is less friction and the rail is a similar rail to that of the Great Western Railway. The wheel has a flange, so that the boys themselves allow that the heavier weight is more easily put. Where these are in use, the 'dip,' with the load is 1.5 inches in the yard.

No. 400. — Mr. W. Bailey.

Under viewer. Has been here 19 years, and has risen up to his present rank through all the graduations of work from a trapper. at 10 years of age. Has worked at various Tyne Collieries.

Trappers go down from 8 to 9 years old and he has frequently to interfere with parents to prevent them from going earlier; thinks they should never go before 9 years old.

Witness refers to the great change in the mode of work and the condition of the workmen that has taken place of late years. About 20 years since, gunpowder was introduced for blasting which renders the hewers work much easier. Before that they had to wedge the coal and would often work in a most exhausting manner. They were more headstrong men at that time; now they give themselves an hour or so longer and work more regularly.

Witness used to put with 'soams' (girdles) when there were no tram-ways but only the 'thill' (floor) now the tram-way is laid close up to the very face of the bord. Thirty years since witness got in assisting to put the tram, 2d. per 1s., then 3d., then 4d per 1s. earned by the headsman.

As to education all the parents could afford to send their children to school but probably improvidence and luxury leave them little. As to luxury, some have flesh meat thrice a-day and not a few of them twice. Many dress in an extravagant manner on Sundays. When a couple marry, they first of all buy and pay for by instalments a good chest of drawers and bedstead.

Teetotalism is not greatly advancing here, yet open drunkenness is seldom seen here; if it be, it is always checked by the viewers. The banksman is ordered to prevent any men at all the worse for liquor from going down the pit and if the overman finds men down he is instantly sent up. The overman himself must be a man of sobriety, diligence and intelligence.

There is some swearing down puts, nor us there any particular rule to prevent it but any upper workmen passing by, may and does check it. Formerly there used to be pitch battles of a serious kind in the pits but this is now stopped by a fine of 5s, in the bond for fighting.

The overman may hit the boys gently with a bat but nothing more is allowed. The parents would prefer that the children should be thrashed rather than fined and sometimes propose this. The masters are more considerate of them than their parents. Now the parents are noted if any children behave badly and the masters dismiss incorrigibles.

Gambling is prevented by all means, though possibly it is secretly practised. There is a fine of 5s. for stealing gear, such as picks, &c. Each man provides his own picks and drills, and other things are provided by the owners. This 5s. fine is given to the owner of the stolen gear.

Thinks there is less sickness here than he has observed elsewhere, and in agricultural districts. Does not see any hardships of a particular kind among the children in the pit. Putting is hard work, but not extravagantly so. Very few put with 'soams' in this or neighbouring collieries.

There is a magistrates meeting every fortnight at Houghton or Hetton but very few cases are taken from here to them.

Odd fellows societies are coming more among pitmen than usual. Formerly there was an objection to pitmen as members from them being deemed liable to accidents. These societies are very liable to 'tramps,' i.e. mechanics wandering about and always moving and consequently drawing on the funds for travelling expenses. The collieries lying closer together, pitmen do not require so much for this purpose.

(Witness contends that pitmen draw less from the funds than others.)

Besides the odd fellows society there is here a relief fund for them. Pitmen subscribe 1d. amonth and the owners add one sixth of the gross amount contributed. They have 1d. a-week less on moving to other collieries.

Many men go to church, but most go to the Methodist chapels. Some men are local preachers among the Methodists there are about three here. Having much leisure time, they excel in this kind of thing, when they take a turn that way. They often hold class meetings and prayer meetings.

No. 401. — Joseph Hunter, aged 20, Thomas Hepplewhite, aged 18. Matthew Dowson, aged 15, all putters.

All go from home at 3 o'clock a.m., to start at 4 o'clock, loose (stop) at 4 o'clock, and get home about 5 o'clock, p.m.; make each about 4s. a-day. All put a tram alone without assistance. Think it hard work but do not feel it so much, having been brought up to it. Take their meals down with them; meat, bread and bottle of coffee. Get as much as they want and eat it when they can.

There is a good deal of swearing but not so much as formerly by a vast. All live with their parents and give them their earnings. They go up and down the pits in the cages; take their dresses of flannel down the pit and put them on again before they come up. No accidents of any sort lately. There is little cock-fighting now; last time the police laid it off. There is more dog. fighting; some about the Downs pit but no regular matches, only fighting about the doors. They say they have forgotten their learning but they read and write a little. They go occasionally to night school; none go to Sunday-school but all to chapel. All three healthy, tall, and well-formed lads. Have ho complaints to make.

No. 402. — John Dowsy aged 14, Peter Lowry, aged 14, Jasper Pattinson, aged 11, all rolley drivers.

Work as the preceding. All live with their parents who work in the pit. Are all healthy and decently clothed and complain of nothing. Dowsy goes to night school. All go to Sunday-school but Pattinson sometimes lies o'er long a-bed. They spell and read, two imperfectly two write imperfectly. They learn to sing and pray (Lords Prayer) at Sunday-school.

No. 403. — April 7th, 8th, and 9th Robert Claffin.

Aged 14. Minds the catches of the cages that draw the tubs and the rap (a signal-hammer).

Gets 1s. 9d. a-day. Lives with his parents. Is down the pit by 4 o'clock in the morning and up to 4 in the afternoon; a good few times has worked longer; an hour or 2 hours if anything particular happens. This last month perhaps he has worked 7 times an hour or so extra. He gets his breakfast before he goes; takes baits down with him, as much as he likes and eats them when lie wants. Sometimes he feels sick like, but nothing more; is never laid off and never had the doctor, except 2 years ago, when he got his leg jammed by a waggon in this colliery and was laid off 9 weeks. The leg is not so sound as before, and rather hurts him sometimes. Cannot read or write, but goes sometimes to night school an the (Methodist) Sunday-school.

Nine boys: one, 16 years old, is a flatman or chalker on; one, 15 years old the same; one, 14, a driver; one, 12, a driver; another, 12, a driver; another 12, a driver; one, 9, a driver; another, 9, keeping 3 doors and a switch; one, 9 keeping a door. None of these go to day or night school; all go to Sunday-school. Four read the Testament; 3 read the spelling-book; 2 only write their names. All work 12 hours down the pit, from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. and sometimes are 13 hours down.

No. 404. — The first of these boys, George Arrington.

Once had his ankle split: a lad knocked him down and the waggons ran over him; was laid off 28 weeks at first, then went to work and came back again and was kept off 4 more weeks. Is not sound in that ankle now and cannot work at very heavy work (his ankle bone projects beyond his shoe and is evidently seriously injured). Once caught a fever in the Downs pit from the bad air while he was working in the broken (pillar working) and was laid off 2 months. Then he was removed to another pit, as the doctor ordered him from Downs pit. He has been in this (the Low Main pit) but is going back to the Downs next week. When he is there he feels not right and has a pain in his head.

No. 405. — William Robinson.

Aged 12. Fell from the limmers when he was a driver, a year ago and the wheels over him. Was kept from work 5 weeks, has also been kept off; about the same time. 3 days from being lamed by a cage in the heel. Sometimes he has pains in his head and does feel them so much when out of the pit. He is off a day now and then from sickness.

No. 406. — Colbert Wilson.

Aged 12. Was hurt 3 years ago by a corf falling off the waggon on his hand, but he suffers nothing from it now. Sometimes he turns sick down the pit, about the middle of the day.

No. 407. — Robert Halliday.

A tub fell on him last year and cut his hand and laid him a month off work but he is quite well now.

These 9 witnesses all work the same hours, from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.. and occasionally are down 13 or 14 hours altogether. Their food is bacon, bread and coffee; some they take before they leave home in the morning and some is taken down the pit with them, which they eat when they like; when they go home at night they get meat and potatoes. T hey are sometimes beaten. William Robinson was about a month ago, beaten one day by the waggon-way man across the hands with a driving whip, which made some blood come. Several have had a few thumps at different times; one has been once kicked but not severely, by Willy Gardiner who also thumped Robert Halliday and knocked him against a stone, for trifling disobedience. Witness was not disabled from working. Their parents draw their money, and give them out of it id. or 2d., or 3d. They complain that the hours of work are over long for them.

No. 408. — John Peterson.

Aged 10 and 5 months. Keeps a door, and drives when required. Works 12 hours from 4 to 4 o'clock. Was lamed a year a go at bank by the horse running away with him throwing him. Was kept off a year.

No. 409. — Robert Bell.

Aged 15. Is a helper up, and works at the Downs pit. Four years ago, while driving, he was run over by a waggon and his leg all cut. He was kept off 16 weeks. Is not lame now; walks pretty well but sometimes feels a pain in his leg when he is walking far and also down the pit when he has hard work and shoves out hard (his leg is much scarred). Was also lamed at bank; when clearing the way a waggon ran over him and he was kept off a month. His head was much bruised (a hollow scar now exists, and he now feels very bad with it sometimes.

No. 410. — John Lovet.

Aged 14. A driver. Was lamed slightly at bank by an iron plate catching his foot and was kept off a week.

No. 411. — George Wade, aged 11; driver.

No. 412. — John Arrington, aged 12 ; trapper.

Of these five boys, 4 read the Bible and the other the spellings book; 3 write their names; 4 go to Sunday schools but none to night-schools.

No. 413. — James Arrington.

Aged 15; flatman, or chalker on. Keeps an account how many tubs pass him and where they come from. When a trapper, was lamed and kept off half a year. He now feels his leg rather weak. Also his fingers were once lamed and he was a fortnight off. Has had a fever and believes it was from the had air in the pit. Reads, writes his name, but does not go to day or night, or Sunday school now.

No. 414. — Ralph Spooner.

Aged 16. Is a chalker on. Was lamed slightly 4 years since. Has felt bad from the smoke in the Downs pit shaft, which sometimes makes him sick and force up his meat again. Reads and writes. Goes to (Ranters) Sunday school but not to night school.

No. 415. — George Scholey.

Aged 15. Is a chalker on. Was lamed a year since by falling off limmers and the waggon going over him. Reads, writes, goes to Sunday school but not to night school.

No. 416. — Morgan Frater.

Aged 15; a chalker on. Cannot read or write. Goes to Sunday but not to night school.

No. 417. — Robert Anderson.

Aged 17. Is a flatman, or chalker on. Reads and writes; goes to Sunday school but not to night school. Four years ago a horse flung at him and cut his temple, and kept him off work 6 weeks. He has pains in his head sometimes now, when down and when up the pit.

No. 418. — Edward Anderson.

Aged 15; a driver. Three years ago his hand was cut by being jammed between 2 tubs, was kept off 5 weeks. Five years ago a waggon ran over his foot, and he was off 3 weeks. His health is bad sometimes and he is sick but he does not feel sick from the pit (not healthy in appearance). Reads, writes his name, spells; goes to Sunday school but not to night school.

No. 419. — Joseph Stanley.

Aged 14; driver. Six years ago his finger and was hurt at bank by a winch while he was playing. Three years ago the waggons ran over his feet and he was so bruised as to be 14 days off work. Feels no ill effects now. Was off a week by a stone falling on his heel. When he is in the pillar or broken workings he is sometimes sick from the bad air. Can read, not write; goes to Sunday school but not to day or night school.

No. 420. — William Carr.

Aged 13. Rings the bell down the pit. Was burnt slightly, 3 years ago, in the face and hands and was off 3 weeks (there is no appearance of this now); the marks appear sometimes in cold weather. Can read and write his name and goes to Sunday school, but not to the night school.

These last 4 witnesses complain of the length of the hours of work, and that the waggon-way men sometimes beat them, or even kick them, or flog them with the driving whip.

No. 421. — John Christer.

Aged 13. Is a driver, &c. Three years ago his right arm was broken by the horse jamming it against a door and was off 5 weeks. Is quite well now. Does not think he has been ever quite well since he went down the pit — the Downs pit. Thinks the smoke of the shaft makes him cough and sneeze. Was always pretty well before he went to that pit. Reads the Testament, cannot write; does not go to night school, but does to Sunday-school.

No. 422. — Cuthbert Carr.

Aged 13. Is a driver, &c. Was off work 4 weeks ago, a day. from being sick. Works in the Down pit. The smoke there affects him; sometimes he throws up his meat from his stomach after he has taken it. Can read the Testament and write his name; goes to Sunday-school. not to night school.

No. 423. — Alexander Carr.

Aged 12. Is a driver, &c. Was kept off work 3 days last year by waggons going over his foot. Is none the worse now. Is sick sometimes; was always so at times, before he went down the pit. Was (beaten) rubbed by the waggon-way-man and flatman this day (his eye is rather black now, where he was struck on a former occasion). Was struck and his hair pulled last year by the same person, Ralph Steel. Reads and writes and goes to Sunday school but not to night school.

The last three witnesses are not healthy in appearance and of rather diminished stature.

No. 424. — John Sharp.

Aged between 17 and 18. Is a putter; earning 3s. a-day this week. Has worked about these pits regularly for 9 years. First went to work as a trapper at 7 years old. He now puts a tram alone; the iron tub on the tram-ways; has done so this day, aided by 2 helpers-up and 2 cuddies (donkeys), in different places. Two years and a half ago was lamed by a tub falling on him and was kept off 14 days. When he was a driver he was several times lamed. Thinks he can count up that he was slightly hurt 14 times but was not kept off work more than a week from any of those lamings. They were cuts or bruises in the feet, head, and fingers. Does not think they boys are very much the worse of the pit but yet they must be to a little; it keeps them from growing in some cases but not in anything like all cases. Sometimes boys are very tired of night but not so much as makes them bad. Nine years ago he came from Derbyshire pits where the boys were sore worked. They had belts round them called dog belts. There they work like cuddies (donkeys). There is a vast of difference here; there they had only sleds, no wheels nor plates. Has known them work from 6 in the morning to 11 o'clock at night in Derbyshire but has not known it here. There many of them were cripples. Has here heard of a vast of boys being hurt at different times and some killed. Some boys he knows are stiff in the mornings but nothing worse.

No. 425. — Thomas Mason.

Seventeen. Is a putter and makes about 3s. a-day generally. Cannot read or write and goes to no school whatever.

No. 426. — Thomas Sommerson.

Aged 17. Is a putter and earns about 3s. a-day generally. Cannot read or write, and goes to no school whatever. Has been lamed 9 times. Ten years ago the waggons at bank ran over him and he was off a year; his right leg was injured and he is rather lame of now. His legs are rather weak. Three years ago his ribs were broken by the waggon over him down the pit, when he fell off the limmers and he was kept off a month. The same year his foot was run over in the same way and he was off 14 days. Also the same year waggons ran over his shoulder when he had a similar fall and he was kept off 2 months; he was also kicked by the horse. Four years ago his wrist was lamed by being jammed, and he was a week off work. He finds himself sometimes short of breath and often his legs feel weak. He could not eat anything yesterday; the smoke of the Downs pit made him sick like. Was once felled by a small prop being flung at him by a man, for missing his way when he was pulling the tub to the waggons. The man was lined, because the prop might have struck the Davy lamp, which, as they were then in the broken, might have fired the pit. There is much swearing and fighting down the pits. Some fight for pleasure. Some steal the other meat and baits.

No. 427. — Ralph Steel.

Aged 18. Is a putter, and generally earns 2s. 6d. a-day. Cannot read or write and goes to no school, weekly or Sunday. Five years ago his fingers were jammed by the waggons and he was off work 6 weeks. His head has been cut by the fall of a stone from the roof; and he was off a month but is not bad now. Finds that the work takes the strength from his legs; feels this weakness all day but most about 10 o'clock. His back is sometimes weak and has pains from the bad air and the work in the pit; feels these pains about the middle of the day; sometimes in his head. He is working in the broken. His food is sometimes forced up. Last week thinks it was forced up 3 times. A year ago was felled for striking another boy - by Tommy Thompson, with a stick like a pick handle, called a tomahawk (a kind of hammer.)

No. 428. — Robert Arrington.

Aged 13. Is a helper-up, and gets 1s. 6d. a day; reads a little, cannot write; goes to Sunday and not to night-school. Three years ago a soam crook slipped and ran into his leg (the mark appears now), and he was kept off a month; the leg is well now. Also works in the broken and agrees with preceding witness in his complaints: sometimes has a pain in his shoulders from heavy work and once last week forced up his meat.

No. 429. — James Smeatim.

Aged 17. A putter, earning about 3s. a day; cannot read, writes his name; goes neither to night or Sunday-school. Five years ago a stone fell from the roof on his head and he was kept off work 5 weeks and 3 days; is now sometimes dizzy with it. Four years ago the waggons went over his foot when he was drilling down the pit and he was 3 weeks off; is now a little lame from it and from a lame in the knee which arose from the same accident. Two years ago one Michael Wilson struck him and knocked him down and jumped upon him and he was kept off a day; Michael Wilson was fined 5s. for it. He would like to work shorter hours for less money. The putters frequently strike the helpers-up for not working hard enough. The lads feel more strains in the knees and wrists than in the back. The trappers often fall asleep very early in the morning and the doors they ought to mind get knocked down. He knows one boy about five and half years old and very little, down the pit, his name was William Fraser. Thinks the workings in the broken very dangerous, especially when the props fall down; knew 2 men last year in the Downs Pit who were hurt by such accidents. A hewer is paid less for working in the broken because the coals are softer from the crush. Witness would much sooner work in the whole. In both workings putters get 1s. 4d. for putting a 20 peek tub for 90 yards and 1d more for every 20 yards more. If the coals are not piled up full they are not paid for that tub at all.

The overman finds the oil to oil the wheels and the putters pay him for it 6d. or 7d. a fortnight out of their wages. The waggon-way-men often strike the drivers. Would be very lad to have schooling and would be willing to pay id. a-week for it. There is a great difference of boys down the pits. Some are forced to go down very early and knows one whose mother was not married and who with his brother was forced to go down very early and to steal victuals and other things, as they were very poor.

An apparently healthy and full grown lad.

The last 5 witnesses from 425 to 429 inclusive, all work in the Downs Pit, and complain of sickness while going down the shaft, and some of them feel bad all day with it. It is in upcast shaft.

From inquiries made of the under viewer at the colliery office I find that James Smeatim puts now (April 7th), a weight of 9 cwt. 24 lbs. for a distance of 92 yards up an inclination 1 inch to the yard rise, at a rise of 1.5 inches to a yard. He has a helper-up. This putting is stated to be the average of putting in this colliery.

No. 430. — George Lowry.

Aged 12. Is a trap-door keeper and minds a switch; gets 1s. 3d. a day; has been in the pit about 3 months altogether. Can read and write; goes to Sunday-school but not night-school. Was lamed in the head 2 years ago, by the cage at the bottom of the shaft coming back on his head; was off work 3 days; his head sometimes aches and he is very sick, which doctor says is from the head cut.

No. 431. — Robinson Sanderson.

Aged 12. Takes the drags out of the rollies. Gets 1s. a day. First went down the pit when he was 8 years old. A good while ago he was lamed in the thumb and off 3 days. Can read an easy book; cannot write; goes to Sunday-school, not to night-school.

No. 432. — William Lee.

Aged 11. Drives a cuddy. Gets 1s. 3d. a day; went to work at 7 years old; has been hurt in the left arm, and kept off a day. Reads spelling-book; writes his name; goes to Sunday-school, not to night-school.

No. 433. — Henry Arrington.

A trapper. Gets 10d. a day. Went to work at 8 years old. Reads an easy hook; writes; goes to Sunday-school, but not to night-school.

No. 434. — Thomas Bell.

Aged 11 years old. A helper-up. Gets 1s. a day. Went to work at 8 years old. Thinks his work is hard (other lads say it is too hard). Works in the broken. His head aches sometimes when going up and down the (Downs) shaft, or for 3 or 4 hours in the morning; but goes off again. Goes to no school of any kind and cannot read or write.

No. 435. — Peter Lowry.

Aged 14. Is a chalker on and keeps a door. Gets 1s. 3d. a-day. 18 months years ago, in the colliery pit, he fell off the limmers and his leg was hurt by the waggon wheels going over it; was laid off 10 week, but walks well now. Sits when keeping a door. Gets as much as he wants to eat. Is sometimes hit about by the men; nothing to hurt. Reads imperfectly; write his name; goes to Sunday-school, but not to night-school. (Is delicate in appearance.)

No. 436. — George Taylor.

Aged 6 years old in July. (Examined at the National Barrington-school.) Goes regularly to work every night in the week that the pit works, at the Elemore George Pit, at 12 o'clock (at night); comes up at 8 or 9, or 10 or 12 o'clock next day; his duty is to give out candles, and oil the lamps ready for the work at 3 o'clock; gets 1s. 3d. a night for this. Sometimes he goes about with George Armstrong, at 6 o'clock in the morning, with the compass; George Armstrong is the keeper who keeps the men working in a straight line. Before he goes down about 6 o'clock (p.m.); he takes with him 2 pieces of bread and butter and nothing else which he eats when hungry; perhaps about, at 5 o'clock in the morning taking water if thirsty and the other when he wants has quite enough bread, could not eat more. Gets his dinner when he comes up, or at 12 o'clock; his dinner is sufficient, and consists or meat potatoes and puddings. About half-past 1 (p.m.) he comes to the school washed and dressed and stays till half past 4p.m.; then he goes home and gets his tea between 5 and 6 o'clock he goes to bed soon after. The overman calls him at a little before or a little after 12 at night when he gets up and being dressed goes to the pit; does not go down on Friday or Saturday nights but goes on Sunday nights at 12 o'clock. Sometimes perhaps 3 or 4 times last year, he stopped down the pit from 12 one night till 5 the next evening for which he gets 2s. 6d. This happens when some boys are off by accidents and he is asked to stop but is not forced to do so; he wished to do so; on these occasions his bait comes down to him. After being up from 5 o'clock till 12 at night he went down again as usual (this only being above ground 7 hours). He is never sick since he has been at the pit, which is two years. He has not been laid off a day for illness or sickness, or for anything; nor has he felt sick or bad at all in that time. He likes the work very well and would as soon down as playing about above. In 2 years he has perhaps worked from 12 at night to 5 next three or four times; finds no difference between being below and above. He is an orphan and lives with his uncle and aunt, to whom the overman gives the money due to him. Aunt gives him about 1s. a fortnight for pocket-money. Can read (fairly), write, cipher; regularly goes to (Church) Sunday-school.

His stature is 4 feet 9 inches. He is an intelligent boy and the schoolmaster praises him, but has frequently found him drowsy and sometimes fast asleep at the desk. He appears little and spare but not unhealthy, having some colour in cheeks.

No. 437. — Mrs. Lowry.

Residing in Downs-lane. Has 5 children living, 3 working in the Downs Pit, and 1 in the other pit. All of these first went to pits at about 11 years old; none of them have suffered from the pit particularly. She has had a particularly healthy family. Some blame the pit would be bad anywhere. She has lost 2 sons down the pit; one was killed by the falling of stone and the other fell down the shaft; both were instantly killed.

No. 438. — Benjamin Lowry.

Aged 17. Is a putter and has been 9 years down pits. His parents once removed this to Urpeth Colliery, where the air was very bad and injured his health. He felt drowsy and inclined to sleep; became hoarse, as if he had a cold and could hardly speak. Often could not eat his meat. His body broke out in boils and he was always having medicine, he was obliged to leave the pit; was sound and well before he went down. Urpeth was a nice place in other things. (Upon mentioning these remarks to the viewer of Urpeth colliery, Mr. Boyd, he observed that this boy was, he thinks, working in the broken a part of the time and that the family of the Lowrys were a generally dissatisfied family and known to be so by the overman. The man was found unsuitable for his work and that was the cause of his leaving. He never heard of any boils upon any one.) When he came back to this pit he was well again. As to hard work, there is a great difference in places and he is now in a very easy place for putting. Is very well in health now.

No. 439. — Three Witnesses.

Working at bank, said that in winter time they always got bad colds from having wet feet; the places were wet and sloppy. The caller called them at half-past 2 o'clock and they were often away for 16 hours from home. If they were at work at an hour earlier than usual they got nothing more for it.

The chief grounds of complaint amongst the boys working at bank at all collieries were exposure to the severity of the winter weather, and consequent and rheumatic affections.

No. 440. — Thomas Smithson.

Aged 11 in June. Is a trapper, and gets 10d. a-day. Caller calls him at half past 2 a.m.: he gets up at 3, and starts work down the pit at 4 o'clock Before he goes he breakfast of tea and bread, as much as he wants. Takes down a bait of bread, brought with him in a bag; eats it perhaps at 11 o'clock, and at 2 o'clock. Gets no more to eat he gets home at 5 o'clock. and here he gets meat and potatoes. Soon after, he washes himself and goes to bed at about 6 or 7 o'clock. The caller calls him again at half-past 2, and his mother comes to his bedside to wake him. He generally feels sore tired when he comes home. Feels sleepy down the pit and often sick, sometimes so as to bring up his meat from his stomach; this may be whiles 3 times in a week, whiles about 2 o'clock in the day. Cannot eat any more food then. Never has the doctor and is never laid off work. His back, legs. arms, and head whiles work (ache). May be 3 or 4 times in a week; and he whiles feels weak in those parts. Cannot stand long when be comes up the pit. The putters and drivers sometimes rub (beat) him with their hand, and whiles with a stick or whip, whichever they may have. The drivers strike him most; they struck him 4 times last week and made some blood come from him 2 or 3 times by hitting him on the nose with their hands but they mostly hit him about the back. Always keeps the same door and has worked always in Elemore Pit, about 4 years. He wanted to go to the pit at first to see what it was like but he did not like it very long. Would now like to work better at bank in carrying the picks, or anything like that. Can read the spelling-book; cannot write; sometimes goes to night school when he comes tip the pit but feels very sleepy and whiles falls fast asleep there; always goes to Sunday-school. His father is dead. Has 2 brothers, 1 bigger than himself, who drives down the pit.

No. 441. — George Robinson.

Aged 21. Is a hewer, and works at Elemore Pit; first went to pits at 12 years old and then kept a door, and then was healthy and sound. Has been a putter and has then been off; whiles a day at a time, now and then, from being sore tired. His legs ached; he was weak in the knees and is now weak. He now works as a hewer from 6 to 8 hours daily. Finds his health a little affected. Has had a pain in his side for some months, not a very severe pain. Has not been so well in health this last 2 years as before. Two years ago had an accident. the tub jammed his head, and he was kept off 7 weeks; head is sore now. Has a bad stomach whiles. Takes some baits down pit with him, which he eats if he has an appetite but gets most of food when he comes home, meat, &c. Mostly pitmen eat most when they get home. His brother is a deputy and the air makes him sick and unwell, takes all his strength away and stops his breath whiles, though he is not kept off work; the longest time he has been off is a fortnight.

This witness, George Robinson, reads and writes imperfectly and goes to no weekly school but is a teacher in the Primitive Methodist Sunday-school. Mr. Edger, the colliery surgeon, says his real complaint is a chronic inflammation of the chest, undoubtedly the effect of the pit and pit work.

No 442. — Richard Holmes.

Residing at the Downs, is a wasteman in the Downs pit, which is well ventilated. Has not observed any ill resulting to the boys from pit work, but thinks it is rather favourable to health. As to hardships in the work he is acquainted with Derbyshire people and Staffordshire people, who often tell him that lads here know nothing of hard work compared with the lads in the pits in those counties.

No. 443. — Joseph Holmes.

His son, has worked 6 years in the pit and has felt no ill effects from it.

No 444. — William Holmes.

Another son also works in the Downs pit. Although his health is not generally the worse, yet he whiles feels sick from the smoke of the shaft, which also whiles makes his head work and takes away the use of his legs for some minutes. He is working now as a putter in the 'broken' and these feelings also arise from the bad air there. His head whiles feels tight across his brows but he was whiles subject to the head ache before he went down the pit. When places are low, the putters whiles rub the skin off their backs; and their legs ache sore for a time.

No. 445. — Mr. R. P. Edger.

Has been the salaried surgeon of the colliery 15 years. Is employed by the owners of the colliery and practises besides amongst the pitmen and others extensively. When he first came, 15 years ago, to this colliery, he observed that the boys were certainly overworked. Many boys from the long hours at that time were so sleepy as to lie down on the waggon-ways at the side and falling asleep, rolled down, and were either killed by the rollies, or often permanently injured. The shortening of hours and facilities of labour have made a great alteration, and he would not now assert that boys are injured in their health by pit-work. There is no doubt that growth has been impeded by pitmen's work and perhaps is some impeded. but to what extent he cannot form any idea. The confinement in the pit and the impurities of the air undoubtedly largely increase any original weakness in the chest, or any tendency to asthma; but the improvements in ventilation have rendered diseases, in the respiratory organs especially, 23 per cent. less now than 10 years ago, within the limits of his own observation and practice.

No. 446. — Mr. James Anderson, a Home Missionary, residing in Easington Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, in reply to queries proposed, handed in the following written evidence.

The pitmen are in general industrious and though there are among them much wickedness, 80 still I believe there has been a great change for the better; still much remains to be done. Ignorance to a great extent prevails among them; this is no doubt to be traced to many of them not being taught to read. The boys go too soon to work; I have seen boys at work not 6 years of age and though their work is not hard, still they have long hours, so that when they come home they are quite spent. I have often seen them lying on the floor fast asleep; they often fall asleep in the pit and have been killed. Not long ago a boy fell asleep, lay down on the way and the waggons killed him. Another boy was killed: it was supposed he had fallen asleep when driving his waggon and fallen off and was killed. Many of the boys are very wicked and ignorant and were it not for sabbath-schools they would be much worse; as it is, ignorance and vice abound. There can be no doubt that the boys going so soon to work hinders their growth and were it not they are well kept I should think many of them could not stand it; that it hinders their learning, for though many of them attend evening schools, there are not many who do not, and as they cannot be idle, they spend the time they are not at work in idle sports, which tend to demoralise them; now could they read, this might be prevented. I often meet with lads playing in the lanes but when I offer them a tract, I find they cannot read. As the best remedy, I would recommend that no boys should be allowed to go to work till they could read and write; it would also be of great importance to have infant schools for the younger children.

Another evil is the number of beer-shops; these are kept open on the Sabbath; and so long as this is the case, I fear we will look for little improvement, for many spend the Sabbath in drinking, thus the money that should go to educate their children is spent in drink; nor is this all, it unfits them for their work and is the cause of many sad accidents. I fear for nature of the labour, their hours could not be shortened, but they should not send the boys so young to work, if anything could be done to raise and enlighten them and this I think might be done if well conducted schools. not connected with any party but established for the good of the people by the promotion of temperance and virtue.

I can state that under my own eye I have seen a great improvement among the people; they are more anxious to have their children instructed. This is evident by the number of Bibles and Testaments we have sold this year above 8 Bibles and 40 Testaments. The children under my care evince a good knowledge of God's Holy word. Our sabbath-school is attended by about 60 or 70 children; of these about 20 are boys from 8 to 14; some of them are pit-boys. They can all read well, many lads have passed through our school; we always find when they go to the pit they are worse to deal with.

Lane Ends.

(Signed) James Anderson.

This witness stated that the population of Easington Lane is about 1,600 and composed partially of pit people. The number of beer and spirit houses is present 10. Nine such houses had been given up lately'. 'Paying wages public houses,' said he, 'is a great evil.'