U.—2

18

The following is a summary of persons killed or seriously injured in metalliferous mines during 1913 : —

Table showing Number of Deaths from Accidents at New Zealand Metal-mines and Dredges during the Years 1906 to 1913.

The following is a brief description of fatal accidents at metal-mines during 1913 ;

Inspection District. Explosions, q^ 1 In Shafts. i?tj i^o" 13 SJh ro gt, io a Z £ £■£, ,S .2 , a -S ° 3 ~ LI fl **h *£* 5 '£ 'a* Miscellaneous Underground. Surface. About Dredges. Total. £»•« I .br^ . cu cp . CD di 'o 3 *-> n3 3 n ju O ti <D O 3 H a I rti "a* JS-d co CD tin rH ° P '** a W CQ _. 2 « • ! ec m • eom "O 3 »J H3 g m iO 3>H 2 .2.2, ' — ° . a ™ op H fl S3 i' fl' T-l '2 'g' 1.-H ID ._, i .. ©J3 k j <D i M a | M iai H M m m Northern West Coast Southern Totals 1 1 4 1 1 4 2 2 2 1 1 ... 1 1 2 2 6 2 2 2 9 1 2 6 4! 2 2 2 10 12 ieing at the rate of 2'02 fatalities per 1,000 pen ions .mplo; ■ed.

Cause of Accident. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. I 1910. 1911. 1912. 1913. Explosion ... .Fall of ground In shafts ... Miscellaneous : Underground... ,, On surface About dredges 3 3 1 '"i 3 2 1 2 G i 2 1 3 1 5 2 2 1 5 1 2 1 1 2 5 3 1 6 2 3 "3 4 2 1 2 Total killed... Number of employees ■--■„■ persons killed per 1,000 employed 14 8,716 1-60 7 9,389 0-84 15 8,880 1-69 14 7,651 1-83 15 8,121 1-84 5 7,100 0-67 5 5,239 0-95 10 4,941 202

Name of Person killed. Date ot Accident. Mine or Claim. Cause of Accident, and Eemarks. Patrick McNannom ■2/1/13 Dominion Consolidated (quartz) While building a trestle bridge on an inclined surface tramway from the mine a falling stringer struck deceased on the head, with fatal results. The two deceased, experienced miners, were working about 70ft. above the battery level, in a stope timbered with 7 in. legs, 8 in. caps and laths, but with no spreaders. The timber evidently collapsed without warning, and the deceased were immediately killed by the falling quartz. The Coroner's jury, while holding no person blameworthy, added as a rider a recommendation that heavier timber should be used in future, and that the sets be " straddled " top and bottom, also that spreaders be placed between each set. The two deceased, having loaded with tools and explosives at the 8th level in the mine one of the skips used in the shaft (inclined 62°) communicating with the lower levels for a farther depth of 950 ft., they then stood on the skip, when the 3 in. (circumference) crucible-steel wind-ing-rope attached to the skip broke at a distance of 41 ft. above the shackle, precipitating deceased down the shaft, with immediately fatal results. The rope (maker, Scott) had been in use 14£ months ; it was composed of a hemp core and six strands of eight large and seven small wires in each strand. The drum and pulley around which the rope passed were 4| ft. diameter. The total strain upon the rope at the time of the accident did not exceed 2 tons. The Coroner's jury, in their verdict, stated that deterioration was the cause of the rope breaking, and that it had not been properly cared for. This accident was followed by a prosecution of the mine-manager by the Inspector of Mines on two charges, viz. : Failing to comply with the Inspector's written instructions that notices should be posted in all chambers of the mine forbidding men from riding on the skips ; and failing to test the winding-rope when fir.it put on, and subsequently every three months. Both offences were admitted, and fines of £10, with costs, were imposed on each charge. Joseph Senior and David Christie 11/1/13 Sylvia (quartz) Thomas McBride and William Hyde 28/3/13 Talisman (quartz)