C—2

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The following is a brief description of fatal accidents in connection with metalliferous mining operations during 1916: —

Date. Xame and Situation of Mine. Xanie, Age, and Occupation of Person killed. Cause of Accident, Nature of Injurie?, and Remarks. 27 June .. 30 June .. 16 July .. 19 July .. Blaekwater Mine, Waiutu Waihi Gold-mining Compam 7 's mill, Waikino Success dredge, near Hokitika Talisman Mine, Karangahake I Albert Riley (15), working at cyanide- Found dead in a vat full of cyanide solution a little after midnight. He was working alone at the vats vats : there is no evidence to show how this accident happened. It is assumed that he climbed on to the rim of the vat and accidentally fell in, or that he fell from a gangway above the vats, being an adequately fenced and lighted gangway. A boy so young should not have been left in sole charge of cyanide-works at night; a breach of the Mining Act, section 236 (b), was committed thereby. William Irvine (40), working at ore- He was found suffocated at the bottom of a quartz-hopper which supphed ore to an automatic hoppers feeder at a stamp battery. It is supposed that while carrying out his duties he either fell into the hopper and was rendered insensible, or was buried while endeavouring to loosen quartz which had arched and ceased running in the hopper. Joseph Shore (58), engineer .. .. About 11 p.m. on a bright Sunday night, whilst boating himself across the paddock to the dredge, he fell into the paddock and was drowned. The dredge was equipped with all the safety appliances as required by the law. Deceased was the holder of a first-class certificate as manager under the Coal-mines Act. Matthew- Kay Hillhouse (39), mine- While standing on a skip in the Talisman underlay (63°) shaft, 24 ft. above Xo. 8 level, for the manager purpose of throwing a plumb-line on to a beam between the winchng-drum and pulley, he slipped and fell down the shaft to the No. 14 level, a distance of about 850 ft., and was killed. At Xo. 8 level, about 24 ft. below the point from which deceased fell, there are doors provided to close the shaft when men are working above; this door was not closed. On the 8th June Inspector Paul had warned deceased not to work in the shaft without putting in a stage. He had the reputation of being a careful man,, but in this case he took a risk, and lost his life in consequence. This is the third fatal accident, causing altogether the loss oi four lives, which has occurred at this shaft during the past four years. Thomas Francis Rowney (50), stoping con- He and his mate, A. E. Lewis, experienced anil careful miners, having broken through into a tractor temporarily suspended stope at Xo. 2 level, Martha lode, which had been stopped on account of danger, were cleaning up quartz in order to crib a pass, when they heard a fall from the back of the suspended pass above them and about 30 ft. away. For the purpose of investigation they unnecessarily 7 and unwisely proceeded into the suspended stope too far, when a large flake fell from the back, striking deceased on the head and body, and breaking his leg. He died the same evening from the injuries received. Edwin Francis Parker (41), alluvial miner.. On the day work was resumed at the claim of deceased, after a suspension over the winter months, he took a needless risk and entered the tail-race to build a wall of stones to support it, when a fall of about 1 ton of earth occurred, crushing his chest and breaking one leg. He died from shock two hours later. He and his mate, Thomas Blanchard, knew that the race was dangerous owing to undermining; and the proper course would have been to sluice the sides down, and make the race safe before effecting repairs therein. 11 Aug. .. Waihi Gold-mining Company's Mine, Waihi 28 Aug. Parkers claim, Kyeburn