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ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. QUARTZ-MINES. New Inkerman Mine. —(ls/2/1902): James Woodward sustained fracture of shinbone by fall of mullock. Progress Mines. —(4/7/1902) : Sydney Kirby sustained two broken ribs and amputation of two toes by piece of timber falling down shaft. Wealth of Nations Cyanide-works. —(2B/8/1902) : Eric Castles sustained fracture of thighbone and double fracture of right arm by being caught and carried round shafting. Hydraulic and Alluvial Mines. Quartz Banges. —(24/7/1902) : James Fisher, caretaker, sustained fracture of the skull. Dredges. Kohinoor. —(17/4/1902) : Thomas Christian, engine-driver, was drowned while boating firewood. Verdict, " Accidentally drowned." Shellback. —(ls/5/1902) : John Martin Olsen, cadet, was drowned while boating firewood. Verdict, " Accidentally drowned." Welcome. —(3/6/1902) : George Jones, engine-driver, missed his footing while stepping off the pontoons into the coaling-boat, and was drowned. Verdict, " Accidentally drowned." Buller Junction. —(27/6/1902) : Harry Findlayson, engine-driver, was drowned while boating coal. Body not yet recovered. Pride of Marlborough. —(l2/9/1902) : One of the employees lost a finger. Premier. —(2o/9/1902) : Thomas Powick, engine-driver, lost two fingers whilst oiling the engines in motion. There was another minor accident during the construction of the Feddersen dredge. I have, &c, E. Tennent, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir — I have the honour to transmit the accompanying reports on the quartz-mines, hydraulic sluicing and alluvial mines, and gold-dredges in the Otago and Southland Districts for the year ending the 31st December, 1902 : — QUARTZ-MINING. Shotover. Achilles Gold-mines, Bullendale. —(19/5/1902): Nothing doing here since last May. The plant had been left in position, but no pumping done, and the water must have risen well up in the workings. Mr. Wesley Turton, the local attorney, informed me that he was hopeful that a new company would be formed to take the mine over and resume work. Shotover Gold-mining Company, Skipper's (J. E. Davis, manager).—(l 9/5/1902) : Operations had been suspended pending the erection of a new ten-head battery and a cyanide plant. The new plant is not yet. to hand, and as the roads are locked up by frost nothing can be done until spring. A small experimental cyanide plant is being used to test tailings, but results are not yet known. Latterly work in the mine has proved that the lode lives to a greater depth than was expected, and there is also an improvement in the value of the quartz recently produced. Mr. Davis informed me that the ventilation was too bad to allow an examination of the mine being made, as, owing to the water being frozen up, the ventilating-fan could not be worked. The low-level face is at 1,350 ft. from daylight. Considerable interest in reefing is presently being displayed in the Skipper's district. Mr. Ring has taken up the reef behind the store at Packer's Point. The reef outcropping on the eastern bank of the Shotover River opposite the Nugget and Cornish reef has been taken up by Mr. Cleave. Davis and party are driving for the reef in Sawyer's Gully, and the reef known as the Crystal has also been applied for in the Warden's Court. Beef ion United Quartz-mining Company, Skipper's Point (H. Duncker, manager).—(2o/5/1902) : Work has been resumed by a Reefton syndicate on the old Chorazin or Jennmg's reef, near Skipper's Township. The original prospectors had driven high on the reef for a distance of 40 ft. The drive proved the reef having two good walls with a width of 5 ft. of quartz in the face, carrying at the rate of 1 oz. of gold to the ton. The new party are driving on the lowest water-level obtainable, and expect to strike the reef at 100 ft., when there will be fully 100 ft. of backs to the rise. Expectations have since been realised, and the reef has been struck with 5 ft. of stone in the face, carrying payable gold. A good battery-site has been chosen on Skipper's Creek about 500 yards from the-mine. Macetown. Premier-Sunrise (New Zealand) Gold-mining Company (Limited), late the New Indian Glenrock (Wynaad) Company (Limited), Macetown (W. Patton, manager). —(23/5/1902) : Since last visit the main dip drive has been extended 60 ft. through hard country. Four new stopes have been opened up, and more will be opened as the dip advances. The advance work in the dip and