81

E.—l

Enclosure No. 5 in Appendix K. RETURN showing the NUMBER of ACCIDENTS to PERSONS that have occurred with Machinery, as reported to Inspectors, during the Year ended 30th June, 1878.

ANNUAL EEPOET ON LIGHTHOUSE WORKS BY THE MARINE ENGINEER. The Marine Engineer to the Officer in Charge of the Marine Department. g IB Marino Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1878. T have the honor to forward, for the information of the Hon. Commissioner of Customs, the annual report on works executed for new lighthouses during the year, viz.,— Brothers. —At date of last annual report all the works in connection with this lighthouse were near completion, and the light was first exhibited on the 24th September, 1877. Portland Lsland. —The contract for this work was completed after considerable delay, and the light established on the 10th February, 1878. The description of the light is as follows : Tower, 28 feet high, of timber, painted white. Tho light is of the second order revolving white light, visible all round; greatest brilliancy every thirty seconds. , ; , '..,,, It is 300 feet above tho level of the sea, and, allowing 15 feet for height of eye, it will be seen 24 nautical miles in clear weather. A fixed red light, having an arc of about six degrees, is shown in the direction of the Bull Bock from the lower part of the tower. Centre Island, Foveaux Strait.—The works at this lighthouse have all been satisfactorily completed under contract; the lantern and apparatus have since been fixed, and it is expected that everything, will be ready for lighting up about the end of August. The light is of the first order, fixed ; with red arcs thrown over the in-shore dangers. Puysegur Point, Preservation Inlet. —The contract works at this lighthouse have also been satisfactorily completed, and the tower is now ready to receive the lantern and apparatus, the erection J of which will be begun in a few days. Moerald. —Since my last report all the works have been completed under contract, the lantern and apparatus fixed, and the light exhibited on the 22nd April, 1878. This is a third order fixed white light, visible 19 miles.

Date. District and Locality. i Nature of Machine, and Owners' Names. Remarks. 1877. fuly 12 lugust 2 September 7 Otago, Dunedin Otago, Tapanui. Otago, Hillside Brickworks, Dunedin Ironworks, R. S. Sparrow and Co. Briekmaking, Andrew Allan Briekmaking, Smith and Fothcringham A lad, an apprentice, working a drilling machine, lost tho thumb of his right hand in attempting to clean the machine while in motion. Fatal. Attempted to stop water-wheel with a wooden lever, was knocked into the wheel, and killed instantaneously. No kind of guarding could prevent an accident of this kind. .L Fatal. A lad not employed on the works. While playing with a rope, and striking with it a shaft running at high speed, the frayed end of the rope was caught up by the shaft; the lad was wound up with the rope 1 and killed. The shafting being in an almost, unused part of the building, the Inspector did not consider, fencing necessary. Since the accident occurred, however, it has .been fenced. A man had the greater portion of his right hand taken off by a circular saw. Fencing could not be applied in this case. Otago, Dunedin Steam Saw - mills, Guthrie and Larnach October 4 1878. March 14 Otago, Elderslie, Oamaru Thrashing Machine, Dewar and Langmuir Steam Saw - mills, Barrowman and Nordloff Thrashing Machine, E. Andrews A man feeding the machine, by some unexplained cause had his arm drawn into the drum ; so badly hurt that amputation was necessary. Could not bo fenced. Mr. Norclloff, one of the proprietors, was severely scalded by tho collapse of the flue of their Cornish boiler. Accident the result of carelessness. Fatal. Machinery guarded wherever practicable. A man got his foot in the opening for feeding; had been warned several times to bo more careful. Died the following day. Fatal. A boy, not employed on tho works, killed by grindstone belt. No blame attaching to any one but himself. Machinery guarded. June 15 Otago, Sawyer's Bay March Auckland ... April 22 Marlborough, Clover Bay Steam Saw - mills, Godsiff and Newton