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of the strata through which the bore has to be taken has militated against the profitable use of this apparatus. The drill owned by the department is still in use at the Kapanga Mine, and has done useful work where the strata was of a suitable nature for its employment. Diamond drills have in the past been successfully used in prospecting the coal-measures at Kawakawa and Kamo. Applications for the hire or loan of drills for prospecting for coal having been frequently received, it may be well to state that the department is not at present in possession of any drills or rods suitable for this class of operations.

FATALITIES IN MINES. Exclusive of the dredging industry, the particulars in respect to which are given elsewhere, nine fatal accidents occurred during the year. Of these, three happened in the northern, four in the West Coast, and two in the southern mining district. Inquiries into the cause and circumstances connected with each of these fatalities were instituted, and from the reports submitted thereon it has been ascertained that in no case was negligence of due precaution the cause of the accident. The number of men employed in quartz and alluvial mining was 14,198, and the rate per thousand of fatalities was 1, a very moderate percentage when the inevitably dangerous nature of the miner's occupation is taken into consideration. A number of accidents of more or less gravity occurred during the year, but in each case inquiry has exonerated the officials in charge of the mine from blame.

ACCIDENTS ON DEEDGES. The number of men employed on the dredges in the southern mining district is estimated at 420. The number of fatalities which occurred during the year was no less than five, being at the rate of 11*9 per thousand. The circumstances under which this branch of the gold-mining industry is carried on are such that men are necessarily exposed to considerable risk to life and limb, and it was accordingly deemed advisable to draw the attention of dredge-owners to the provisions of section 29 of " The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1895," with reference to the precautions to be observed for the safety of those engaged in this class of work. The following circular letter was therefore addressed to the owners and managers of dredges, and it is anticipated that, with increased attention to the safeguards therein referred to, the mortality during the ensuing year will be materially lessened : — I have to direct your attention to section 29 of "The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1895," which provides that —(1.) Every dredge used for mining purposes shall at all times be equipped with life-saving appliances to the satisfaction of the Inspector, and shall have at least one suitable boat. (2.) Every manager who fails or neglects to comply with the provisions of this section is liable for each offence to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds. In pursuance of which, notice is hereby given that all dredges must be equipped with safety appliances as under : —Two life-buoys and two light lines, to be hung in conspicuous places within easy reach fore and aft; two boat-hooks, and one boat containing a life-buoy, line, and boat-hook. If working in or adjacent to a current, the following additional appliances must be provided, viz. : Life-belts to be worn by each member of the crew of any boat while engaged in shifting the lines; one extra boat, containing a life-buoy, line, and boat-hook. Attention is directed to the practice of men stepping on buckets when in motion for the purpose of crossing the well. This is dangerous and must be strictly prohibited; and, where practicable, the well should be protected by a movable fence, or covered over as much as possible with a platform in, say, 2 ft. sections. Where neither method is practicable, a gangway at least 2 ft. 6 in. wide and fitted with substantial hand-rails at each side is to be used for crossing the well. Where coal, &c, is not brought on board by boats, a gangway of sufficient length, not less than 2 ft. 6 in. wide, and fitted with a substantial hand-rail at each side must be provided and used, as the practice of carrying coal on board a dredge across an unprotected plank or gangway is dangerous. On dredges which are not entirely covered in, the sides of the uncovered portion of the hull must be fitted with stanchions/not more than 8 ft. apart, and two substantial rails or tightly stretched wires or chains, the lower rail, wire, or chain not being more than 10 in. above the deck, and these may be made movable for the purpose of taking coal, &c, on board, but are to be kept in position at all other times, as the practice of leaving certain portions of the hull unprotected is dangerous. • ! ! '

SLUDGE-CHANNELS. The following list shows the rivers throughout the various mining districts which have been proclaimed as watercourses into which tailings and mining debris may be discharged, and the dates from which the Proclamations have taken effect. The supplementary schedule shows those rivers and creeks concerning which the required notice of intention to proclaim has been gazetted, but in respect to which, owing to various causes, Proclamations have not as yet been issued ; —■