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Rotowaro Rescue-station Ninety-five men have been trained at the station, twelve of these during the year. In addition to the training of new men, refresher courses have been given to all previously trained men. During the year equipment has been installed at the State Mine, Benneydale, for the use of the two State mines in the Taranaki district. During the year eight appeals for assistance have been received at the Station, three of these being for fire-fighting purposes, the remainder being for the opening-up of old sections which have been sealed for some considerable time. Huntly School of Mines The school continues to attract a considerable number of students, and classes are held regularly at Huntly, Ngaruawahia, and Rotowaro. Fatality On 20th May at Kamo Colliery a miner, Allan George Saunders, received injuries which proved fatal, due to a fall of roof stone. Serious Non-fatal Accidents G. Ngahere, employed at Pukemiro Colliery, sustained a fracture of left clavicle on 11th January through being jammed between two props. On 20th March in No. 3 Mine, Rotowaro, Robert Oliver, deputy, received an injury to the left leg through a piece of coal falling on it; this resulted in fracture of bone. As a result of being jammed between two skips, F. Libeau sustained a fracture of lower end of right radius bone on 4th April at Pukemiro Colliery. Reported from Mangapehi on 9th. May that J. Dibley, miner, was struck on head by piece of coal from roof; he sustained the following injuries : twisted right knee, a broken ankle, and abrasions to back, the head injury not serious, due to hard hat being worn. A fractured upper jaw was sustained by F. Raynor, deputy, Glen Afton Colliery, on 15th August, who, after examining the roof from the top of heap of coal, was coming down when he slipped and struck the corner of a skip standing at toe of heap. On 10th September at Kamo Colliery Donald McFarlane, shiftman, sustained a fracture of a leg when he was struck by a timber trolly which had jumped the track. A shiftman, A. Palmer, received a first-degree burn of the face in the No. 1 Alison Mine due to lifting the lid from a carbide container used in conjunction with an acetylene cutter and inserting his naked light to see what was inside ; apparently some gas was still in the container, which ignited, causing the burn. Date of accident, 16th September. On 9th October it was reported from Mangapehi that R. Archibald, trucker, sustained a fracture of the left arm. Reported from Renown Collieries that on 3rd September E. Hambleton, miner, received an injury to his right eye which necessitated the removal of same. Reports regarding Dangerous Occurrences in Mines On sth January in No. 1 East Section, Mangapehi, a fire was detected which had started under a fall of coal; fire was subdued by applying water, and is now safe and cool. On 6th January gob-stink detected in No. 2 East Panel, Mangapehi, emanating from crack in floor; heating subdued by water, and is now cool. On 11th January in West Pillar Section, Mangapehi, smoke was observed coming from a crushed barrier alongside the gob. This required erection of four stoppings to seal off. On 10th February fire-stink was detected in No. 3 Left North Mme, Pukemiro ; this was effectively isolated by erection of a stopping. Reported on 10th February that minor outburst of fire occurred in return half of No. 2 East Panel, Mangapehi; the fire was in a crack in the floor. It was quickly extinguished by application of water. On 13th February smoke was observed coming from a sealed goaf in Alison No. 2 Mine. This required an additional two stoppings to seal off the affected part. In the E2 Second Panel Pillars, Glen Afton Colliery, on 15th February fire-stink detected coming from goaf. The heating was smothered through securing a good fall from roof. On 25th February fire-stink was detected coming from the goaf in the E2 pillars, Glen Afton Colliery; in addition to securing a good fall, two stoppings were erected to isolate the affected area. On 12th April in the West Section, State Coal Mine, Benneydale, a fire was discovered in some loose coal inside a board stopping through which it had burnt a hole; water 'applied to extinguish the fire and a clay stopping erected to seal off the area. On 4th May in the No. 1 Section, South Mine, Pukemiro, an outbreak of fire occurred which was considered sufficiently serious to warrant calling for assistance from the Rescue-station, Rotowaro. The fire had burnt back over an existing permanent stopping. Two new stoppings were erected, and the outbreak is now under control.

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