C. —2.

For general information it may be stated that at 30th June, 1937, the streams or rivers mentioned below have been classed by the Mines Department as deep or swift-flowing streams within the meaning of the Mining Act and its amendments, and the masters of dredges working on these streams must hold Class "A" Certificates. Some of the streams enumerated may not come within the literal meaning of the term " deep or swift-flowing " in dry weather, but in times of flood are heavy torrents, hence the necessity to class them as streams of the character named : — Marlborough and West Coast Districts: Wakamarina, Wangapeka, Aorere, Lower Matakitaki (that portion of the river between its junctions with the Glenroy River and the Buller River), Inangahua, Buller, Ahaura, Totara, Nelson Creek, Grey, Teremakau, Lower Greenstone (that portion of the river from the junction of the Blackwater with the Greenstone to the junction of the Greenstone with the Teremakau), Hokitika, Mikonui, Arahura. Southern District: Pomahaka, Clutha, Kawarau, Shotover, Manuherikia (lower end only —commencing from the entrance to the Gorge 6 chains upstream from the suspension road traffic bridge near Ophir in the Tiger Hill Survey District), Dart, Waiau, Mataura, Waikaia (lower end only, being that portion below the junction of Winding Creek). MINERS' PENSIONS. The Pensions Act, 1926, as amended, provides for payment of pensions to miners seriously and permanently incapacitated by miner's phthisis or totally incapacitated by other occupational disease or heart-disease contracted while mining in New Zealand. The rate of pension for a miner is 255. a week, with 10s. a week added for his wife, if he is married, and a maximum of 10s. a week for each dependent child under fifteen, subject to a limit of £4 ss. a week for the family. The widow of a miner who dies while in receipt of a pension is entitled to receive 17s. 6d. a week while she remains a widow. Amendments to the Act during the past year included the widening of the basis of eligibility to cover cases of heart-disease and occupational diseases other than miner's phthisis, and the extension of the right to pension to any widow of a miner dying while himself in receipt of a pension, irrespective of the cause of death and irrespective of the financial circumstances of the widow. The scheme, which originated in the Miner's Phthisis Act, 1915, is administered by the Pensions Department, and the following summary of operations for the year ended 31st March, 1937, has been supplied by the Commissioner of Pensions Payments from Ist November, 1915, to 31st March, £ 1936 .. .. .. .. •• 820,205 Payments, 1936-37 .. .. .. .. 83,253 £903,458 Number of new grants for year 1936-37 — Miners . . . . . . . . 199 Widows . . . . . . . . 76 275 Annual value of new grants .. .. .. £23,478 Number of pensions in force at 31st March, 1937 — Miners . . . . . . . . 861 Widows . . . . .. .. 179 1,040 Annual value of pensions in force at 31st March, 1937 . . £87,839 Average pension per annum . . . . . . £84 9s. 2d. Number of pensions granted to 31st March, 1937 . . 2,666 Dissection of pensions in force at 31st March, 1937 — Unmarried miners .. . . . . . . 245 Married miners . . . . . . . . 616 Miners' widows . . . . . . . . 179 1,040

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