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Fatal Accidents. A fatal accident happened in the Golden Cross No. 1 shaft, Waitekauri Gold-mining Company, on the 29th November, 1899, to Charles Luscombe, a single man. He was filling the buckets, and standing in the bottom of the shaft in the compartment where the material was raised or lowered, when the rope broke as a bucket of stuff was being raised, and the bucket fell, striking him on the head, killing him instantaneously. The verdict was accidental death, caused by a faulty rope, no blame being attached to any of the officials or any of the company's employes. —Reported on the 4th December, 1899. Ronald McDonald met his death on the 11th January in the Waihi Company's mine whilst at work in an open face on the surface, caused by a fall of earth about 5 ft. in height, and falling down over a ledge he was working on, 6 ft. high. The verdict of the Coroner's inquest was that death was caused by a shock caused by a slight fall of earth, which his debilitated condition was unable to resist, and that no blame was attachable to any one.—Reported on the 13th January, 1900. Thomas Casley was killed on the 2nd March in the New Zealand Talisman Company's mine by a piece of rock slipping out of the hanging-wall on him when at work in the stope. The verdict of the Coroner's inquest was that he met his death by a fall of mullock from the hanging-wall, while working in the stope of the New Zealand Talisman Company's mine at about 10.30 p.m. on the 2nd March. As the ground appeared to be perfectly safe, no blame was attachable to any one.—Reported on the 6th March, 1900. Non-Fatal Accidents. Twenty-eight non-fatal accidents occurred during the year, a few of which appeared to be of a serious nature, and were reported on at the time. I have, &c, James Coutts, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

Mr. R. Tennent, Inspector of Mines, Westport, to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Westport, 23rd April, 1900. I have the honour to report as follows on the gold-mines in the Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast districts for the year ended the 31st March, 1900 : — QUARTZ-MINING. Blenheim. Jubilee (Owners, Jubilee Gold-mining Company; C. D.Morpeth, legal manager, Wellington). —(6/2/1900): The principal developments are driving a low level, which will intersect the lode at a total distance of 128 ft. Previous to driving, the gold-value of the outcrops were tested by the company's battery. Ten men employed. Collingwood. Taitapu Gold Estates (W. M. Fulton, mine-manager). — (19/2/1900) : On the Ant Hill section of the workings four men are sinking a winze below No. 2 crosscut; depth, 69 ft. Ventilation is supplied by hand-fan. Six men surface-prospecting. Golden Blocks, Taitapu (F. Johnson, mine-manager).—(l 9/2/1900): Quartz for battery purposes is chiefly mined from driving No. 2 level on line of reef, and raising from same level to connect with No. 1. On completion of the rise connections between Nos. 3 and 4 levels free ventilation will be maintained, and the necessary facilities available to stope the intervening blocks. The company has newly erected a steam-driven five-stamp mill (by Price Brothers), which was successfully started on the 21st March last. The old three-stamp mill was removed and connected with the new engine, which drives the eight stamps. The battery is connected to the mine by direct tram-line. The manager is confident of good returns, and has a sufficient supply of stone in sight. Parapara Haematite - works (Messrs. Washbourne Brothers, proprietors). — (16/2/1900): According to the statement of production furnished by the owners, the output for the year shows a decrease on the preceding year of 50 tons ore-paints, and a small parcel of knife-polish. Westport. Britannia. —Mining on this property still continues of a prospecting'character. The company erected a two-stamp battery, driven by water-power, but the results obtained from the stone in sight were unsatisfactory. Three men are employed. Twins. —This property was sold by public auction, and was bought over by the Despatch Foundry Company, Greymouth. The mine is shut down. Lyell. Alpine Extended (Martin Conradson, mine-manager). —(1/3/1900): For a considerable time past at this mine the chief ore-supply was stoped from No. 10 level south. The stone is now exhausted, and crushing operations are reduced to eight hours a day. Connection with No. 10 north was raised from No. 11 north face, from which stoping was continued south towards the shaft. The prospects of this reef are not anticipated to be permanent. In view of picking up the No. 9 north block a crosscut was driven 90 ft. from No. 8 face, but the country indications were unfavourable for a reef, and in consequence was abandoned. The principal work pushed on at present, and one