19

a—4

on the spot before his mate could remove the coal. A parting in the coal, not previously seen, caused the slip. An inquest was held, and the jury visited the mine, which resulted in a verdict, " Accidental death : no blame to any one." 15. Wallsend Mine. —On the 14th November Joseph Carter, while filling his tub, was badly injured by a fall of coal from the face of the adjoining working-place, where a long sprag was already in position —but temporarily only—till some loose coal could be removed to give it a good foothold. Before this could be done the sprag slipped at foot, or canted over with the weight, and fell on Carte:-. The sprag was placed against the coal by two other men working alongside of Carter. Ido not think any of the men anticipated any danger. The fall was quite unexpected. The shift had only just started to work. 16. Wallsend Mine. —On the 20th November J. McCaffrey nearly received a death-blow on the head from a sprag springing back from his working-face. 17. Wallsend Mine. —Robert Russell got his leg broken and some internal injuries by a fall of coal on the 21st December. The coal had a back to it not previously seen. He said : " There was no one to blame." List of Persons convicted of Breaches of the Goal-mines Act at Brunnerton Resident Magistrate's Court. —William Henderson, having, on the 3rd February, 1887, carried loose matches and a box of same into the Wallsend Mine; fined. 10s.; costs of Court, 95.; one witness, 10s.; solicitor's fee, £1 Is. : 9th February, 1887. John Thomas, having, on the 3rd February, 1887, carried into the Wallsend Mine matches and tobacco-pipe ; fined 10s. ; costs of Court, 95.; solicitor's fee, £1 Is.: 9th February, 1887. James Rowe, having one match in his possession in the Wallsend Mine on the 3rd February ; fined 10s. ; costs of Court, 9s. ; solicitor's fee, £1 Is. : 9th February, 1887. John Birch took an unlocked safety-lamp into his working-place, in the temporary absence of deputy, in Wallsend Mine on the 18th June; fined 10s.; costs of Court, 11s. ; and two witnesses, 10s.= £1 : 4th July, 1887. I have, &c, J. Gow, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

Accident Table.

No. and Date. Name of Mine. Locality. a £^3 ■ Cause of Accident. J g 5 g | Is a I Name of Sufferer. Bemarks. North Ma md. L. Jan. — Miranda Waikato .. I Crushed by cage against openingset in shaft 1 .. — Clarkson.. Leg broken and soalp wound. 1. Jan. 10 Brunner Middle Isle md. | Thomas Hope Eleven weeks oft work. Greymouth Pall o£ coal 1 I 1 j 2. „ 19 3. Feb. 19 4. Mar. 7 Wallsend Coal-pit Heath „ Ignition of gas .. Pall of coal 1 1 1 1 1 "i J. Masters. H. Eckhold James Duke. f J.Macdonald 1 George Perry i J. Dempster f J. Dunn .. \ W. Walker (j. Elliott G. Eynton. K. H. Jones. George Owen. J. Denman. James Hays. C. Williamson G. Newton. T. Kirkwood. T. Smart. Died, 24th March5. „ 25 Idaburn Naseby .. Ignition of powder Nightcaps Pall of coal 1 l I Not reported. 6. April 7 Wairio 1 1 7. „ 25 Wallsend Greymouth Explosion 1 l ) Royal Commission. 8. June 14 9. „ 12 L0. Aug. 18 LI. „ 24 12. „ 26 13. „ 2G L4. „ 29 L5. Sept. 1 LG. „ 17 Brunner Wallsend Coal-pit Heath „ Truck on incline Fall of coal „ Pall of prop „ Crushed by tubs.. „ Pall of coal „ In way of tub „ Pall of coal „ Descending shaft Westport.. Pall of coal and dirt „ .. Fall of coal Mosgiel Greymouth Crushed by tub .. Collingwood Crushed by horse Greymouth „ „ Pall of coal „ Fall of stone Run over by set.. I - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 l l l l l l i l l Brunner Coal-pit Heath Coalbrookdale i Dislocated hip. 17. „ 22 18. „ 29 L9. Oct. 3 20. „ 5 21. „ 14 22. „ 17 23. „ 26 U. „ 27 Mosgui Coal-pit Heath Wallsend 1 1 1 l i l l l l l l J. Stephenson D. Snaddon. J. Bremner. J. Squire G. Eankine. W. Mason. J. Arbuckle. P. Goodrich. 1 | 'i l I Not reported. Brunner " 25. Nov. 4 Idaburn Naseby .. Pall of coal .. I 1 1 J. Macdonald (Not reported by manager or Coroner. 26. „ 14 27. „ 15 28. „ 17 29. „ 18 30. „ 20 31. Deo. 21 Wallsend Coalbrookdale Wallsend Kaitangata .. Wallsend Greymouth „ Westport.. „ Collingwood „ Kaitangata „ Greymouth Pall of prop „ Pall of coal l i l i l i 1 1 l l l l J. Carter. E. Jones. P. Iveson. A.Cunningham J. McCaffrey. R, Russell. 3 28 4 27