INSPECTIO OF MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1602, 5 August 1882, Page 12

INSPECTIO OF MINES.

The " Report on the Control and Inspection of Mines " is on the whole very satisfactory, and contains in the appendix very valuable information. It is stated, to begin with, that, judging by results, the object of bringing the Regulation of Alines Act into force has to a large extent been attained, and the hope is expressed that "increased experience aud the removal of causes of danger may lead to a continuance of the success which has so far attended the eiiorla of the department, a.ssiate4 in. many cases by the hearty

co-operation of owners and officers of mines, to secure, as far aa possible, immunity from accident in the prosecution of an industry surrounded by a variety of peculiar dangers." Ail the coal-mines of importance have been inspected during the year, and we notice frem the reports of the inspectors that the condition of the Shag Point mine in respect of the safety of the miners is much more satisfactory than it was last year, and that the Kaitangata mine is now most carefully managed, every precaution being taken, especially in view of the fact that the presence of, gas, is still occasionally observed. Inspection under the Act has been extended to the principal quartz mines in the Heefton district. These are the first gbld-minea which have been brought under, the Act, those afc the Thames and adjoining districts being inspected under " The Gold-mining Districts Act, 1873," which is only in force in the Hauraki mining district. Referring to the statistics appended to the report, we find that the number of coalmines ia three less than last year, owing to some small mineß having been struck off the list. The number now recorded are five in the North, and ninety-five in the; South Island, but many of these latter are on a very small scale, and are noted only because they are of sufficient importance to require inspection. The statement furnished by the Secretary of Customs (printed in the appendix) of coal imports and exports for 1881 shows that 129 962 tons were imported, and 6626 were exported. - The total output for the! Colony during the same period was 337,262 tons. The total consumption in the Colony, waa, therefore, 460,598 tons, an increase over the consumption in 1880 of 44,398 tons. The increase of coal won from the mines m 1881 was 37,339 tons over the quantity raised in 1880, or 106,044 greater than the ; product of the mines m 1879, and 175;044 tons more than the yield ot 1878, the output having thus more than doubled in three years. The increased output for 1881 is principally derived from the Westport Company's Banbury mine, Westport, and from the increased yield from the Kaitangata Company's mum '.' The quantity produced in the Colony," says the report, "would no doubt have been considerably greater if the appliances of certain mines and the means of transit from them had been in a more forward Btate. Increased facilities in both of these respeots promise' to be effected before long." The number of accidents during the year waß exceptionally small in proportion to the number of persons employed in the coal-mines. Three men have been killed, and the injuries to other persons were only of sufficieut importance to report on six cases. These casualties all 'occurred in the South Island mines. Of jthe three fatal accidents, two happened to trespassers in m> way connected with the working of the mines, and who had no business in them at all. Putting, therefore, these cases out of the qudstion, there has been but. one fatal accident during 1881 for 337,000 tons of coal raised. This occurred through a fall of coal, and the inquiry elicited that there hac( been no broach of the Act by wilful negligence, carelessness, or want of proper prebaution. Of the six other accidents, only one was serious. On the Ist April of the current year a fatal accident occurred in the Brunner miue from a fall of coal. As it appeared from the circumstances that the accident was caused through neglect to set timber, the inspector laid an information against the underviewer of the mine. Owing, however, to insufficient evidence, although it was sufficiently clear that there had been neglecL of duty or grave orror of judgment, the case was dismissed; but the mere fact of the prosecution is likely to have a good effect.