C.—2.

Short accounts of the fatal accidents are given in the District Inspector's reports for the Northern and West Coast districts. It is very pleasing to record that there was no fatal accident in the Southern District during the year. This was the first year since 1917 that the district has been free from a fatal coal-mining accident. Of the twelve serious non-fatal accidents, seven were caused by falls of coal or stone and at least one of them might have been prevented had the timbering rules been more strictly complied with. Three of the accidents occurred on ha ruing roads, the miner in the Dobson Mine sustaining a fractured spine and three ribs by being jammed against the roof. A night-watchman fractured his right arm by falling on to the rails and a horse-attendant lost a finger when his hand was caught between a skip-guard on a cage and the full skip.

SECTION IV,— WORKING OF THE COAL-MINES ACT. (a) Permitted Explosives. (Regulations 233 to 237 inclusive.) The following is a table showing the quantity of permitted explosives used and the number of shots fired at New Zealand coal-mines during 1933 :—

(h) List op Mines at which Permitted Explosives are used. The following is a list of mines as at the 31st December, 1933, at which permitted explosives are used — Northern Inspection District. Pukemiro, Pukemiro—Throughout South Mine. Rotowaro, Rotowaro —Throughout No. 1 and No. 3 Mines. Glen Afton, Glen Afton —All sections of the mine. Mac Donald, Waikokowai—Throughout West section. Waikato Extended Colliery, Huntly—All sections. Renown, Waikokowai—All sections. Wilton, Glen Massey—All sections. West Coast Inspection District. Puponga, Puponga. Blackball, Blackball. O'Rourke's, Murchison Braehead, Dunollie. Cardiff Bridge, Seddonville. Cain's, Rapahoe. Charming Creek, Ngakawau. Castlepoint, Runanga. Cascade, Burnett's Face. Cox's Creek, Rapahoe. Glasgow, Seddonville. Dobson, Dobson. Westportmain, Granity. Duggan's, Rewanui. Westport Coal Co.'s Denniston mines. Hunter's, Rewanui. Westport Coal Co.'s Millerton mines. Briandale, Ten-mile. Westport-Stockton, Ngakawau. Moody Creek, Dunollie. Rocklands, Berlin's. Old Runanga, Rewanui. Whiteclifis, Berlin's. Schultz Creek, Twelve-mile. Archer's, Capleston. Smith's, Runanga. Clele, Merrijigs. Spark's, Rewanui. Coghlan's, Capleston. State Coal-mines (Liverpool Collieries and James Collins, Murray Creek. Colliery). Morrisvale, Reefton (Perfection and Surprise). Paparoa, Roa. Defiance, Reefton. Wallsend, Brunnerton. Burke's Creek, Reefton. Dennehy's, Ten Mile Creek. Waitahu Colliery, Reefton. New Point Elizabeth, Dunollie. Honey's, Reefton. Goldlight, Rewanui. White Rose, Merrijigs. Fiery Cross, Dunollie. Armstrong's, Ten Mile Creek. Jubilee, Rapahoe. Baddeley's, Coal Creek. Bellbird, Ten-mile. Bellvue, Rapahoe.

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Quantity of Permitted ' .. , « Explosives used (lb.). i dumber of Misfired Shots. +» __ "g Number ' > J . > Inspection District. _• of £2 g * Ê 6 Shots fired. «> oS « O ' ±2 ® w © <3 < S eS a -g a o a Total. -no o P | © ©-s ©c ©rg SO S T3'd ft © Q o « •§> I ►>« >,n a° "«! Kl i m M M pq <i Northern (i.e., North Island) .. 88,606 .. .. 101,816 3 28 18 49 453 S f)63 West Coast (of South Island) .. 94,164 .. 119,634 262,462 13 192 107 312 78l'319 Southern (i.e., Canterbury, Otago, 2,749 .. 52,186 82,793 . 9 16 2^ and Southland) «Mt.ovo Totals .. .. 185,519 .. 171,820 447,071 16 229 141 j 386 1 469 878