19

0.—2

Description of Fatal Accidents at Metal-mines, &c. —continued.

IV. GOLD-MINES. The following statement shows the value of the bullion-production, also the dividends declared, number of persons employed, and number of gold-mines and dredges : —

* In addition to the go!d produced from the gold-mines, silver was obtained from them, hence the word " bullion " is used in preference to " gold." t The bullion-production is from 74 dredges, but the dividends given are only from 11 of these, the property of registered companies. The profits of privately owned dredges and mines are unobtainable, which renders this statement incomplete. { The bullion-production is from 223 alluvial claims, but the dividends are only ascertainable from those few that are the property of registered oompanies. (1.) Quartz-mining. The following is a statement showing the tons of ore treated, the value of bullion produced, and the amount of dividends paid by quartz-mining companies in each of the inspection districts durine the years 1912 and 1913 :— 5

Name of Person killed, j f^ t i ■ I Mine or Claim. Cause of Accident, and Bemarks. Wong Hong 10/5/13 Nokomai (sluicing) .. Deceased was working in a sluicing and elevating claim when by some means his foot became caught in the hydraulic elevator, although there appeared to be no necessity for him to go too close thereto, the paddock being roomy. The sufferer's countrymen prevented Europeans from attending to the deeply lacerated foot, but, after neglectful delay, applied their own remedies. Finally amputation became necessary, fatal results following. The elevator was provided with Adams' Patent Blow-back, for use when a block occurred. The Coroner decided that no person was blameworthy. .Deceased, an experienced claimholder, was picking a stone from a sluicing-facc of about 12 ft. in height, when a fall of earth occurred without warning, killing him instantly. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict accordingly. While shovelling after blasting at the 1,000 ft. level a fall of quartz occurred, breaking the back of deceased. The walls being soft and the quartz disjointed, the place was timbered to within 12 ft. of the faco, and slabs were driven ahead, but no false sets were used, which precaution was necessary, and if adopted the accident would not have occurred. While engaged at work a large stone rolled down from the face, crushing deceased fatally. The Coroner's verdict was "accidentally killed." In contravention of section 269 (b) of the Mining Act, the mine-manager failed to notify the Inspector of Mines of this accident, and for such neglect was liable to prosecution and fine. Deceased and .another were working in a leading stope at the No. 6 level, immediately above a drive timbered with stulls, when without warning the loose quartz underfoot gave way owing to the collapse of the stulls underneath, burying the deceased and his companion. When extricated, Woods was dead. It is probable that surface - water percolating through broken country caused the collapse of the stulls. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict to the above effect, adding as a rider a recommendation that set timbers in preference to stulls should be used in the class of country in which the accident occurred. Coronation Claim (sluicing) Francisco Carmine 2/7/13 2/7/13 W. H. McKeo 13/4/12 (died 17/11/13) Moanataiari (quartz).. Lewis Adams 26/11/13 Adams and Weir's Claim (sluicing) 26/11/13 Alexandor Woods .. 11/12/13 New Zealand Crown Mines (quartz) 11/12/13

Production of Bullion, 1913.* (All Mines.) Dividends paid, 1913. (By Registered Companies only.) Number of Persons ordinarily employed. Number of Working Mines, Dredges, and Claims. •uartz-mining ... >redge mining!... lluviai mining \ £ 1,071,813 195,848 295,704 £ 287,088 18,750 11,643 3,031 621 1,097 63 74 223 Totals, 1913 1,563,365 317,481 i,im 360

Tons of C (2,2i ire treated. 10 lb.) Value of Bullion. Dividends paid. (ByRtgistered Companies only.) Inspection District. 1913. 1912. 1913. 1912. 1913. 1912. Northern .Vest Coast Southern 327,590 126,260 10,658 264,831 55,098 15,722 £ . 865,619 201,987 4,207 £ 781,716 116,408 8,065 £ 260,188 26,900 £ 299,303 15,600 Totals ... 464,508 335,651 | 1,071,813 314,903 906 , 189 287,088