15

0.—2

The following statement shows the value of New Zealand minerals (other than coal) exported from the Ist January, 1853, to the 31st December, 1926 : —

11. PERSONS EMPLOYED. The following statement shows the number of persons ordinarily employed in or about the metalliferous mines* of the Dominion during the year : —

III. ACCIDENTS. During 1926 three fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 1,770 persons were ordinarily employed.

The following is a short description of the fatal accidents : — William Brown, cyanide foreman at the Blackwater Mines battery, on the 23rd March was treating with sulphuric-acid slimes from concentrates which had been roasted in the Edwards furnace. He became ill the same day, and was later taken to hospital, where he died on the 31st March. A postmortem disclosed the fact that death was due to arsenic poisoning, and that when treating the slimes deceased had inhaled fumes containing arseniuretted hydrogen generated by the action of the acid on the slimes. Leonard McClure, a miner employed in the Waihi Mine, on the 18th May had gone down the travelling-way to run the pass, which had hung up. A piece of stone fell from the stope above, rolled down the pass, and struck deceased on the head. He died in Waihi Hospital on the 20th May. On the 16th December Thomas Harris Harrison, manager of the Golden Bar Mine, Wakamarina, was examining the face of No. 1 level when a fall of mullock from the back took place and struck deceased, killing him instantaneously.

Total from the 1st 1926. 1926. Increase or Decrease. tStVecem'^r, 1920. £ £ £ £ Gold .. .. .. .. 516,207 472,364 Inc. 43,843 92,403,399 Silver .. .. .. .. 51,236 60,773 Dec. 9,537 3,016,660 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 998 2,255 „ 1,257 305,123 Kauri-gum .. .. .. 332,765 414,901 „ 82,136 21,855,751 Sand, lime, and building-atone .. .8,294 7,968 Inc. 326\ Kql Other minerals .. .. .. 1,467 451 „ 1,016/ 5-41,464 Totals .. .. 910,967 958,712 Dec. 47,745 118,102,397

Inspection District. Classification. — Total, 1926. J Northern. West Coast. Southern. Gold, silver, and tungsten .. .. .. .. 850 490 366 1,706 Ironstone .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 64 .. 64 Totals for 1926 .. .. .. .. I 850 554 366 1,770 Totals for 1925 .. .. .. ..I 788 619 342 1,749 * In addition, 12 persons were employed in sulphur-mining, and 23 persons in oil-boring operations.

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Ca,use ' Number of Snmtipr n( i Number of Number of Separate T,?h,° Separate Persons Accidents. ' ' | Accidents. injured. Falls of ground .. .. .. .. .. 2 2 Explosives Miscellaneous, on surface .. .. .. .. 1 1 Miscellaneous, underground Totals .. .. .. .. .. 3 3