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On 17th May, 1949, Charles Pinn, miner, Moody Creek Mine, whilst working in a level which had just struck the fault, was picking at the face when a piece of coal weighing approximately 3 cwt. came away from the top side rib near the fault, and in trying to dodge the coal he slipped and was struck on the side. His injuries consisted of fractured right pelvic bone, right ankle, right elbow, and dislocation of right wrist. On 17th May, 1949, R. J. Wallace, trucker, Wallsend State Colliery, slipped and fell whilst greasing rollers on the extension rope and sustained a simple fracture of left wrist. On 4th July, 1949, H. Raich, miner, Blackball State Colliery, sustained a fractured right leg below knee and slight bruises to the side when a piece of stone fell from the roof and rolled towards him when clearing a place to set a prop. On 4th October, 1949, M. Buckley, shiftman, Strongman State Colliery, after assisting the ropeboys to send coal away on top of the hill at Rapahoe, was walking back when he stepped on a loose sprag lying between the two roads and fell heavily, sustaining a fracture of both bones of the left leg just above the ankle. It seems that, as he fell, his left leg swung out and struck the buffer of a passing full skip. This blow may have caused the actual fracture. On 6th October, 1949, Cliff Bishop, miner, Burnwell State Mine, whilst raising a bar by means of a screw jack, suffered a crushed and compound fracture of right foot, necessitating amputation of middle toe. The accident was caused through the screw of the jack being screwed right out of the nut. The spring of the timber being jacked up projected the detached piece of the jack on to Bishop's foot. On 17th November, 1949, A. Picken, trucker, Strongman State Colliery, fractured a small bone in the back when a lump of coal slipped down between the laths of two sets and struck him on the back. On 9th December, 1949, W. Long, trucker and winch driver, Dobson State Colliery, was operating a small Holman air winch (about 5 h.p.) when, it is assumed, he took hold of the rope to make it book better while in motion. In the process his arm became caught and was taken round the drum of the winch. His injuries consisted of fractured forearm (radius and ulna bones) and loss of the tip of the middle finger, right arm, and lacerated wound above elbow. Dangerous Occurrences in Coal-mines (Regulation 81, Coal-mines Regulations 1939) Kiwi Mine, Ten-mile.—On 3rd February, 1949, the manager reported that a heating had developed in the goaf adjacent to where pillars were being extracted. The affected area was sealed off by board and brattice stoppings plastered with a mixture of cement and stonedust. Blackball Mine, Blackball.—On oth February, 1949, a heating was located in the gob where pillars are being extracted in the Sump Dip district. The area was sealed off. Liverpool State Mine, Rewanui.—On 23rd February, 1949, an outburst of gas due to a blower occurred in a developing level off the inside panel bank, Morgan East Dip. Three pairs of miners were withdrawn and the area was sealed off. Liverpool State Colliery, Rewanui. —On 12th May, 1949, a slight heating was discovered in the top panel, Morgan East Dip, and it was found necessary to isolate the heating by permanently sealing the panel. Approximately 1,500 tons of coal were lost and one working-place. New Imperial Mine, Reefton. —On 16th August, 1949, the mine-manager reported ha ving discovered a heating over a small area in Grigg's worked-out section. There was no danger to the New Imperial workings. Burnwell State Mine, Reefton. —On 17th August, 1949, the District Manager, State Coal-mines, Reefton, advised that a heating had been detected in a level adjacent to the foot of the main jig. The smell was strong and carbon monoxide was detected at the top of the fall. Sealing was carried out. Central State Mine, Reefton. —On 2nd September, 1949, warmth was noticed in an old fall on what is known as Clark's Level, the heating being very deep-seated in this fall. A temporary board and brattice stopping was erected which was later replaced by a permanent stopping. Millerton State Mine, Granity.—On 13th September, 1949, it was found that coal over a fire stopping in the Old Dip Mine was very hot. The stopping itself was in good condition. Another preparatory stopping had been built about 5 yards away. As it was not practicable to do anything further to the fire stopping, it was decided to seal off at the doorway of the preparatory stopping. Work will be continued in this area to build two further stoppings or dams 3 ft. thick and to add another 2 ft. to the preparatory stopping, thus making it into a dam that will hold a small head of water. As these stoppings are all to the dip of the rope road, it is the intention of the management to flood these with water when the dams are completed. Burnwell State Mine, Reefton. —On 7th October, 1949, a leakage, including carbon monoxide, was detected at a recently erected stopping adjacent to main jig bottom. This stopping was fastened up next day. On, 10th October, 1949, heating was detected in a fall in rise workings, which were sealed off by the following day by two board stoppings. A further heating occurred on 12th October, 1949, when smoke was detected coming from the fallen area at the inbye end of the main level. As a precautionary measure this area had been enclosed by stoppings, and on smoke being detected the intake and return stoppings were closed up. On 18th October, 1949, the District Manager advised of an incipient heating inbye from the previous ones in a roadway on the. low side of main level, and it was proposed to load out this fall. Central State Mine, Reefton. —On 18th October, 1949, it was reported that an incipient heating was suspected in a fall in main return level. As no alternative airway was available, a road was being laid into it from the return side.

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