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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT.

APPENDIX A. REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES. The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines. g IR) Wellington, sth June, 1942. I have the honour to present my report on metalliferous mines and stone-quarries for the year ended 31st December, 1941. Owing to the necessity to conserve space, and other circumstances, no details are given on gold-mining, nor, as in former years, are any statistics included regarding the production from quartz-mining, dredge mining, or alluvial mining.

ACCIDENTS. In 1941 four fatal and three serious non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 2,420 persons were ordinarily employed.

Two of the fatalities occurred at the Martha Mine, in the Northern District, one in the West Coast District and the fourth in the Southern District. On 31st March a braceman stood on a nail, sustaining a slight punctured wound of the right foot. Tetanus developed some days later, with fatal results. On 9th July a miner, carrying fishplates in from the surface, walked into an open winze near which he had been working and fell 90 ft., sustaining injuries from which he died a few minutes later. To prevent a similar accident occurring, it is intended to require by regulation the installation of an approved grid and, where necessary, a substantial railing to bar ofE the winze. The West Coast District mining fatality occurred on 22nd February when an old miner jumped off a punt which had got out of control in the Mokihinui River. He died from the shock, and his body was not recovered for some days. On 14th June a Chinese hurrying along an old track near the Nevis Water-race to resume work after his lunch fell about 50 ft. into the elevator paddock, and broke his neck. No one saw the happening, but about three-quarters of an hour afterwards his body was seen by another workman above the 3 ft. of water in the paddock. Of the three serious but non-fatal accidents, two occurred in the Martha Mine, in the Northern District, and the third in the Big River Mine, in the West Coast District. GOLD-MINING. No new quartz-mines were opened up during the year. The twelve dredges working in the West Coast District at the end of 1940 continued operating throughout 1941. White's electric dredge was dismantled, and it has been transferred to Waipuna, where it will be reconstructed. Early in 1941 the Snowy River and Red Jacks dredges commenced operating. The Marsden dredge was completed, and the construction of the Slab Hut and No. 1 Atarau dredges well advanced The completion of the building of the Mawheraiti and No. 2 Atarau dredges has been deferred. The five dredges working in the Southern District at the end of 1940 continued to operate. Prosecutions. No informations were laid by the Inspectors of Mines. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. Antimony. —Near Alexandra, in Central Otago, 17 tons of antimony ore, valued at £249, was mined. Asbestos. —From 620 cubic yards of serpentine 53| tons of asbestos fibre was produced by opencasting in the Upper Takaka field. Bentonite and Fuller's Earth.—At Porangahau 136 tons of Bentonite, worth £578, was mined. At Kamo 109 tons of Fuller's earth, worth £382, was produced. Diatomite. —At Kamo about 30 tons of diatomaceous earth, worth £336, and at Ngongotaha about 15 tons, worth £60, were produced. In Otago 79 tons of low-grade diatomaceous earth, valued at £112, was mined. Dolomite. —From Mount Burnett 2,672 tons of dolomite was mined. Iron. —From Mount Burnett 310 tons of limonite, valued at £93, was quarried. Near Whangarei 275 tons of limonite, valued at £1,067, was mined, and at Okaihau North Auckland, a further 959 tons of limonite, valued at £2,733, was won. 2—C. 2.

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Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Caus0 - Number of Number of Number of Separate 5™!?* Separate Persons Accidents. Accidents. injured. Falls of ground.. .. .. •• •• •• •• 1 1 Explosives Miscellaneous, on surfaoe .. .. .. 3 3 2 2 Miscellaneous, underground .. .. .. . ■ 1 1 Totals .. 4 4 3 3