20 Abingdon Street,

Westminster, S.W.1.

10th April, 1926

To Colonel the Rt. Hon. G. R. Lane Fox, M.P.

SIR,

In compliance with your instructions, I have held formal Investigation under Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, into the causes and circumstances of the inrush of water which occurred at the View Pit of the Montagu Colliery, Scotswood, Northumberland, on 30th March, 1925, causing the death of 38 persons. I have now the honour to report as follows :—

My inquiry was held in the Assize Court at the Moot Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 26th and 27th January,1926, with the assistance of Mr. Henry Walker, C.B.E., H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines, as Technical Assessor. Evidence was taken from 20 witnesses whose names and designations are given in Appendix I. For the use of the Assize Court and for the facilities granted to me during the proceedings, I am indebted to the Northumberland County Council and the officials of the Moot Hall.

The parties interested who appeared at the Inquiry with the names of their representatives are as follows :—

Mr. T. Greenland Davies, H.M. Divisional Inspector of Mines	Representing the Mines Department
Mr. H. T. Foster, H.M. Senior Inspector of Mines
Mr. E. A. Mitchell-Innes, K.C., C.B.E., instructed by Messrs. Clayton and Gibson, Solicitors, Newcastle-on-Tyne	For Messrs. William Benson & Son Ltd., Lessees of Montagu Colliery
Messrs. Clayton & Gibson (by Mr. W. W. Gibson)	For the Royalty Owners
Mr. C. B. Fenwick, instructed by Messrs. Clayton & Gibson	For Messrs. William Cochran Carr, Ltd.
Colonel W. C. Blackett, C.B.E.	For the Institution of Mining Engineers
Mr. Herbert Smith	For the Miners' Federation of Great Britain
Mr. W. P. Richardson
Mr. W. Straker	For the Northumberland Miners' Mutual Confident Association
Mr. Coulthard	For the General Federation of Firemen's Examiners' and Deputies Associations of Great Britain
Mr. Johnson
Mr. R. Nutall	For the Northern Colliery Officials' Mutual Aid Association
Mr. John Mackay	For the Montagu Miners Lodge