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of them may yet be found available. We have, however, examined several varieties of the safetycages in use, as well as those exhibited at successive international exhibitions, and we have considered a large number recently described and figured in an elaborate paper by Herr Sulbach, and we are unable to come to the conclusion that any one of them is a trustworthy safeguard against accidents." " Safety-hooks," for detaching the rope and suspending the cage, are spoken of more favourably, the Commissioners expressing a belief that no definite objection can be brought against their use, and a further opinion that the best appliance for preventing fatalities from over-winding is an automatic steam-brake attached to the winding-gear. With regard to testing ropes, the report states: "It is important to remember that the strength of a rope, if tested for its whole length, may be seriously affected by too great a strain being put upon it in the process of testing, and hence that any step in this direction must be taken with great caution." The Commissioners attach great importance to the systematic inspection of each mine by the workmen, as provided for in General Eule 30 of "The Coal-mines Eegnlation Act, 1872," and recommend that this provision be generally and regularly acted upon. The same power is possessed by the miners of this colony under General Rule 47 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1886," and it is to be hoped that they will avail themselves of it. [ Approximate Cost oj Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,350 copies), ,±'G IGs.j.

By Authority: Geougs Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7.

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