9

H.—ll

ACCIDENTS EEPOETBD DUEING THE YEAE 1903-4. Auckland (144 — 1 fatal).— -Boy employed at coachbuilding was killed by the block of some tackle that gave way striking him on the head. Ten men employed at sugar-works were injured through the collapsing of a big stack of sugar—one receiving compound fracture of the right leg below the knee ; the second, serious injuries to spine and hip; third, fracture of left leg below the knee ; fourth, dislocated ankle right leg; fifth, scalp injuries ; sixth, broken collarbone; seventh, injuries to hip and spine; eighth, cut about head and shoulders; ninth, injuries to elbow and neck; tenth, injury to knee. Man employed at printing-works had arm badly lacerated through being caught in folding-machine. Man employed at furniturefactory had two fingers cut off by circular saw, through piece of wood flying and causing his fingers to come into contact with saw. Man employed at sawmill lost thumb and finger through contact with circular saw. Man employed at boot-factory lost top of finger in machine. Plumber fell while repairing roof, sustaining injuries to head and breaking ribs. Man employed at foundry had finger badly crushed by roll of lead. Blacksmith had small bone of foot broken when shoeing horse. Man emplayed at joinery-works lost second and part of third and fourth fingers of right hand in mortising-machine, caused by reaching over the machine. Man employed at joinery-works was working a surface plane when timber canted, throwing his hand on to the knife, resulting in loss of thumb of right hand. Young woman employed at printing-office was working punching-machine when her finger was caught and lacerated so badly that it had to be amputated. Youth employed at printing-works taking slips off litho. machine got his hand caught in rollers, lacerating the flesh of wrist and fracturing small bones in hand. Young woman employed at jam-factory was assisting to carry a large pan of boiling jam when her foot slipped, causing her to fall flat on the floor, with result that a quantity of the jam was spilled over her head, face, and arms, badly scalding her. Woman employed at laundry got arm caught in steam-mangle and had to have it amputated. Girl employed at wire-mattress factory got finger caught in cog-wheels, losing it at first joint. Man employed at sausage-making got hand caught in machine, losing a portion of one finger and having two others injured. Youth employed at saddlery-factory was travelling on lift and allowed his foot to projest, losing one toe and portion of another. Man employed at sawmill lost two fingers and injured two others in circular saw. Youth working drilling-machine got three fingers caught in cogs, losing one finger and crushing others. Man employed at sawmill was oiling the machinery about 10 ft. from floor when he fell and fractured his skull. The remaining cases were of a less serious nature, consisting of cuts, bruises, &c. Aratapu (2). —Both of slight nature. Ashburton (4). —Two in a foundry and two in a woollen-mill. None serious. Blenheim (.2 — fatal). —Boy nine years of age was watching his father working a fencingmachine, and came in contact with revolving shaft, getting a leg and arm broken : he succumbed to the injuries. A young man was feeding a circular saw, cutting firewood, when a piece of timber rebounded, striking him in the abdomen and causing his death. Brunnerton (3). —Man at sawmill was felling a tree, when a branch fell, severely fracturing his skull. Sawyer lost two fingers in circular saw. Man employed at breaking down in a sawmill had leg broken by big flitch of timber. Bull's (1). —Employee at sawmill injured his arm in rollers. Christchurch (123). —Youth working at printing-office lost a finger whilst cleaning linotype machine in motion. Blacksmith was working at anvil when piece of steel flew and struck him in the right eye: the sight will probably be lost. Youth working a drilling-machine got his coatsleeve caught in machine, breaking his arm near the wrist. Man working in quarry was charging a hole with explosive when charge went off prematurely blowing two fingers off and breaking his thumb. Man working circular saw in joinery-works lost the fourth finger and got hand badly lacerated while clearing away sawdust. Boy working in foundry got coat caught in shafting resulting in arm being broken. Man working a leather-splitting machine slipped his hand on to the knife and lost a finger. Youth employed at planing-machine was clearing away some shavings and got hand caught in the knives, which necessitated amputation at the wrist. Man employed at agricultural-implement works got finger badly crushed in cogs of watering-cart. Man employed at boot-factory broke second and third fingers in the press-machine. Man working an iron-turning lathe got his hand caught, one bone in wrist being broken and back of hand badly lacerated. Man employed at foundry slipped and broke one of his ribs while lifting steel plates. Youth working at a circular saw lost part of thumb. Boy working at biscuit-factory got his fingers badly crushed in the lozenge-mixer. Man was trying to work gas-engine without putting on the gas, and when pulling round the fly-wheels they came down on his big toe and nearly severed it. Boy was helping to start a gas-engine when crank came down on to his right foot and severed the second toe. Man was working a circular saw, and when reaching for something under the bench his hand was caught, four fingers being cut off. Man employed at foundry was cutting a piece of timber with small circular saw when wood flew up and crushed the end of the thumb of his right hand and split the bone. Man employed at furniture-factory was working a surface-planer when a piece of wood jumped and forced his hand on to the plane, resulting in the loss of two fingers. Boy employed at boot-factory was putting leather through press-rollers and got his finger badly broken, necessitating amputation. Man employed at engineering-works was helping to put plate into furnace when his hand got caught underneath, breaking his first finger and badly bruising others. The remaining eases were of a less serious nature, consisting of cuts and bruises incidental to factory-work where machinery is employed. Dannevirhe (1). —Man employed at sawmill was brushing off some sawdust from travelling bench when his hand came in contact with breaking-down saw, the tops of two fingers being cut off. 2—H. 11.