C—Sα

54

Accidents in Gold-mines for the Year ended 31st March, 1899.

No. 15. Mr. E. Tennent, Inspector of Mines, to the Under-Secbetaky for Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Westport, 3rd April, 1899. I have the honour to report as follows on the gold-mines in the Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast districts, for the year ending the 31st March, 1899 : — Wakamaeina. Golden Bar and Bavenscliff Quartz-mines.— {l 7/1/99) : Operations on this property have been at a standstill during the year. CoiiIiINGWOOD. Parapara Hcsmatite-works. —(l3/1/99) : These works are still being successfully carried on by Messrs. Washbourne Brothers, and last year the output increased to over 100 tons. The proprietors are of opinion that, as the excellent preserving qualities of the haematite become better known, the sale will still further increase. The cost of production will be greatly reduced by the introduction of improved machinery, and a large and productive industry established. Golden Bidge Mine. —(l 2/1/99): This property is owned by the Taitapu Gold Estates (Limited). Operations are confined to surface prospecting, by eight men, south of the old Golden Bidge workings. So far, nothing of importance has been discovered; but the manager (Mr. H. Fulton) is sanguine of picking up a run of country corresponding with the Aorangi section of the Taitapu Gold Estates, which has lately been giving good returns. Aorangi (late Pioneer) Mine. —(ll/1/99): The development of this property, which is owned by the Australasian Gold Trust (Limited), is being carried out under the management of Frank H. Johnson. The area now being developed consists of 100 acres. The reefs, which vary from 2 ft. to 5 ft. in width, are worked from crosscuts, Nos. 2 and 3 being connected by two winzes, and ventilation thus amply provided for. The crosscuts are connected with the shoot by a groundtramway, 5 chains in length, the shoot being 150 ft. in length to the hopper. This hopper, which has a holding capacity of 50 tons, is connected by a short tramway with the battery, consisting of three heads, which has been recently erected, a 5-horse-power horizontal engine furnishing the motive-power. The manager intends to push on with developments to the southward of the present workings (which are now well opened out) as there is a favourable change in the nature of the country. In December last, 60 tons of quartz gave a return of 318 oz. 15 dwt. retorted gold, and 97 tons from the same reef was crushed in February for a return of 126 oz of gold.

Name. Mine. Nature. Date. Edward Patton Bobert Beid * William Mangan .. Esther Joughin A. E. Tapling Patrick Hayes John Trebilcock Lloyd Pranois "Biohard Handcock New Zealand Crown Mine Ohinemuri Syndicate Waihi-Silverton Waihi Mine Waitekauri Mine Thames-Hauraki Hauraki Anchor New Zealand Jubilee Waihi Consolidated .. Fractured ankle Shoulder bruised by a fall Fatal aocident: timber breaking in shaft Leg injured by a fall Eye injured by explosion of gelignite Leg broken by cage Head and shoulder injured by a bucket .. Side injured by a bucket Fatal accident: killed by falling down a shaft Injured with truck tipping up ; died from the injuries Slightly injured Ankle slightly bruised Fatal accident : killed by crossbar descending shaft Shoulder injured Body slightly bruised by a piece of rock .. Leg broken by a piece of rook Injured by a pieoe of rook Fatal accidents: suffocated through the effect of timber oatohing fire in the mine Leg slightly injured Body injured by a belt Hand and leg injured Collar-bone broken by falling between vats Injured by explosion of a shot Shaken by jumping out of cage.. Collar-bone broken by a piece of rock Bight hand severely injured by tappet of stamps Injured by a piece of rock falling on him Arm broken by falling down underlie shaft Arm torn off whilst engaged in putting belt on pulley 2 April, 1898 2 7 9 7 May 9 19 18 June „ 18 July „ •Walter Devel Montezuma Plant .. 29 . Jamieson and Boyle John Gilroy *Bobert McGregor.. Hauraki Mine Hauraki Main Lodes New Zealand Jubilee Mine 21 30 29 Aug., , C. Berkery Albert Beid James Ingles H. Murrell *B. A. Graham 1 *J. W. Stevens } Henry Giveen John S. Taylor Edmond Noonan J. McLaohie William Connon .. John Worgan J. Newith G. Connell Kathleen Crown New Zealand Crown Mine Moanataiari Mine .. New Zealand Talisman 27 18 10 Sept., „ 23 New Zealand Jubilee Mine 23 „ Komata Beefs Waitekauri Extended Komata Beefs .: Waihi Battery Alburnia Mine Deep-sinker Waihi Mine Waihi-Viotoria Battery 28 11 Oct., 1 Nov., . 4 '-;■'" „ 22 11 Jan., 1899. 12 „ 3 March „ William Murray .. Henry Kelly Henry Carlson New Zealand Crown Mine New Zealand Crown Mine New Zealand Talisman 8 17 28 » Fatal. There six fatf ;al icidents.