We learned recently that Mr William Blackie, yard manager for the Castle Hill Coal Company, at one time worked in the Brunner mine, and a Stab reporter had an interesting chat with him a few days ago concerning his recollections of the mine and the workmen. The following is the sub stance of the conversation ; Reporter ; I have been informed, Mr Blackie, that you worked in the Brunner mine for some time, add that some of the unfortunate miners were well known to you. Is that correct ? Mr Blackie; Yea, lam very sorry to say it is quite true. More than three-fourths of them were known to me, as I worked with them for some time—with some in the Otago mines and with others in the Old Country. Will you favor ns with a short account of your experience in and your opinion of the mine ?

Most willingly, as I think it a very fitting time to do so. Eleven years ago I went round to the Brunner with three Otago miners. At that time I had three brothers working in the mine. Like myself, they had been in mines from boyhood. Mr Bishop was the manager of the mine, and before I went to work in it one of my brothers told me that the mine was a capital one plenty of fresh air, the seam high, good wages to be made, and one of the best managers be bad ever worked for, besides which the overman and the staff of deputies were all practical men from the North of England. When I made a start in the mine I found all my brother bad told me true to the letter, and all the workings, as far as I can remember, were in the whole, or levels and headings—no pillars or broken workings. The mine was worked in three districts—the dip, the “ fault,” and the rise—and I worked in them all. In the dip the miners worked with open lights, as there was little or no gas there in my time. The “ fault ” was very full of gas, but I remember that, with four others, I made a drive in this district with out a hitch of any kind occurring, thanks to the careful management of all concerned. I have been engaged in mining for many years. 