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Return of Accidents to Life and Limb which have occurred in connection with Land Boilers and Machinery in the Auckland District during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1892.

The Inspector of Machinery, Wellington District, to the Assistant Secretary, Marine Department. Sib, — Office of Inspector of Machinery, Wellington, 14th June, 1892. I have the honour to forward for your information the annual report on the inspection of boilers and machinery in the Wellington, Maiiborough, Nelson North, Taranaki, Nelson South, and Westland Districts, for the financial year ended 31st March, 1892. During the above period 772 boiler-inspections and 651 machinery-inspections have been made. Included in the above numbers are 378 boiler and 300 machinery-inspections by Mr. Mowatt. Although a larger number of boilers in connection with flaxmills have been idle during this year than last, there is still, owing to the increase by new boilers and boilers from other districts, almost the same number of inspections as last year. We continue to find that the bulk of the repairs required in connection with boilers is due to the want of knowledge on the part of the person in charge; as instance, several otherwise good boilers were found in such a state from the accumulation of mud that they could scarcely generate sufficient steam to drive the machinery empty, the man in charge being quite unable to account for the loss of power. In some cases the tubes had to be drawn before the boiler could be thoroughly cleaned ; but, even where this has been found necessary, it is difficult to induce the owners to procure appliances for properly washing their boilers out. The danger of accident to persons employed about boilers that are tended as I have pointed out will continue to increase as higher pressures are used. The employment of better-trained engine-drivers would in a great measure overcome the difficulty, and insure economy in fuel and repairs. The opportunity has been taken to inspect as many of the idle boilers as could be conveniently done while in their neighbourhood, with the object of being able to issue certificates for them should they be put to work before next inspection. Twenty-eight fresh boilers have been added to the district during the year, 9 of which have been made in the colony, 13 were imported, and 6 are from other districts. Written or verbal notices have been given to effect repairs to boilers and boiler mountings, as also to fence dangerous parts of machinery.

Name and Address of Owner. Description ol Machinery. I Name of Person injured. Nature and Date Fatal of or Accident. not. Cause of Accident, and Bemarks. Puhipuhi Prospectors Company Quartz-crushing works John Clark, aged 45 years Collarbone broken, 13th June, 1891 Not It appears Clark was brushing a chip from the belt of the pulveriser, when by some means he became entangled with the belt, breaking his collarbone. The machine ought to have been stopped. After adjusting a planing-machine, Poster started it to ascertain if all was right; when finding a piece of board which was passing through, his right hand was knocked against the knife-barrel, which resulted in four fingers being cut off. The machine is protected as far as practicable. He was working at a planing-ma-chine, and was, it appears, guiding a short piece of wood, when it slipped, his hand coming in contact with the cutters ; two fingers were taken off. He had been previously warned against putting short pieces of wood through the machine. The lad was not employed at the works, but had taken his father's supper, and remained amusing himself where his father was working at the forge rolls. It appears he slipped, and in falling threw out his arms to save himself ; his right arm was drawn into the rolls and severely crushed. It was afterwards amputated. He was employed at a saw-bench. It appears he was adjusting the guide for turning the sawn pieces of timber off the bench (the saw being in motion), when his left hand came in contact with the saw, and was cut off. The saw ought to have been stopped while adjusting the gviide. Manukau Timber Company Saw-mill David Foster, aged 40 years Four fingers of right hand, 3rd July, 1891 Not Henry Cook, Auckland Edward Temadent, aged 22 years Two fingers of right hand, 6th October, 1891 Cabinet-making factory Not Iron-works Joseph Worthington, aged 13 years Eight arm severely crushed, 21st October, 1891 Onehunga Ironworks Company Not Left hand cut off, 17th November, 1891 Not osopliCoulthard, Te Awamatu Saw-mill Joseph Coulthard, aged 47 years