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C—2

SECTION lII.—ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of accidents in and about coal-mines during 1923, with their causes : —■

The fatalities being in the proportion of 1-00 per thousand persons employed, and 2-53 per million tons produced. Of the fatal accidents the following is a short description : — George Cleveland, at Ohai, on the 16th January. The deceased was shifting an empty railwaywagon and got crushed between the wagon and one of the uprights supporting the coal-chute, with the result that he was so seriously injured that he died on the 4th February. This accident would have been avoided if there had been sufficient clearance. James Seddon, at Denniston, on 15th May. The deceased had fired a shot and was cutting the top coal when he was struck by a lump of coal which fell from the rib-side, and which in all probability had been loosened by the shot. Albert Ambrose Wells, at Burkes Creek, Reefton, on 24th May. In the process of extracting a pillar the deceased had removed some top coal when a further fall of tops took place and buried him. A. Baker, at the Liverpool Mine, on 19th July. The deceased was engaged, in dropping top coal when a fall of coal, due to a bump, swung a set and caught the deceased. Martin Tomic, at Millerton, on 15th August. The deceased was taking back top coal when a fall took place and caught deceased, who was so seriously injured that he died a few days later. SECTION IV.—WORKING OF THE COAL-MINES ACT. (a.) Permitted Explosives. (Regulations 128 to 134 inclusive.) The following is a table showing the quantity of permitted explosive used and the number of shots fired at New Zealand coal-mines during 1923 : —

Sixty-seven per cent, of the coal produced in the Dominion during 1923 was broken down by permitted explosive, and the average production of coal per pound of explosive used was 5-6 tons, and per shot fired 44 tons. (b.) Dangerous Occurrences reported. (Regulation 81.) The following is a short account of the" more serious of these. A full list is contained in the District Inspectors' reports. Denniston Mine. —A heating, followed by a serious fire, occurred in November in the Wareata Extended section of the above mine. Eventually it was sealed off with brick and concrete stoppings, but resulted in the loss of a large amount of coal.

Fatal Ai scidents. Serious Non-fi tal Accidents. • Number of Separate Fatal Accidents. Number of Deaths. Number of Separate Nori-fatal Accidents. Number of Persons injured, including those injured by Accidents which proved Fatal to their Companions. Explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust Calls of ground Explosives Elaulage .. .. ... Miscellaneous —Underground On surface 'I 4 7 5 4 15 1 7 5 4 16 I i i Totals .. 5 5 32 32

Quantil Uxplof ;y of Permitted lives used (lb.). Number of 1 lisflred Shots. -g-d -3 ° o-fo «S te 3 Inspection District. I ! ! i Number of Shots fired. a, oi > b oi Of- U2 Hn'in <U HS <W O -r- fl „- 01_O R« fl « cq m oi F> ■HJ O oi Total. giFfl OS M 04 278 64 352 7 40 135 670 iTorthern (i.e., North Island) Vest Coast (of South Island) .. Southern (i.e., Canterbury, Otago, and Southland) 83,363 82,395 44.933 26,919 192,677 44,933 95,201 105,864 38,330 78 130 53 235 33 Tons. 366,360 829,122 125,361 Totals 299,455 131 404 1.320,843