H.-ll

14

September examined the mine again. A very heavy weight had come on the south side, and closed a good many of the places. Intake to south side, 3,143 cubic feet per minute; straight-up rDad, 5,075 cubic feet per minute. On this date and also on the 21st September (when I made a careful examination of the whole of the rise-works) no gas was seen. On the 14th May, 1883, found that a new district had been opened out on the in-bye side of the 20-feet fault, where there is a block of coal which Mr. Samson is working by a dip-drive, twenty-six men being employed here. The places were only a short distance in, but the air will soon want guiding. Eeports and plans kept properly. The north-side pillar-workings, having cooled down, have been reopened. No accidents occurred during 1882, and one slight mishap in 1883, for which see accident report. 79. Kaitangata (No. 1) Goal Mine. —On the 26th May, 1882, examined the workings and a good many of the abandoned places on the upper levels; saw no gas; air pretty good. On the 18th September all the three pit-levels (in every second or third place) were examined and no gas found. x\ir much better, being guided with doors and stoppings. One place said to have gas in occasionally, in which case it is always worked with locks and safety-lamps. Intake from shaft, 9,816 cubic feet per minute. On the 14th May, 1883,1 examined the places on the two top lifts, which seemed closer than usual, though there was no gas. On the 15th proceeded with examination. Mr. Samson found that one of the lower doors had been open for repairs, and had caused the slackness mentioned above. Went through all the working-places, and nearly all the closed bords, on the rest of the seven top levels. No gas to be seen either in these or No. 8 north and the bottom south level. I found that a number of boys under sixteen are employed below ground nine hours per diem, inclusive of an hour for dinner. Mr. Samson says they do not work for more than forty-four hours per week; but they must not be below ground more than eight hours in any one day. One daily report is written for this mine, and then signed by both firemen. Each should write a separate report. 80. Wangaloa Goal Mine, Wangaloa. —Examined on the 19th September, 1882. No Act observed apparently; but nobody was at the mine, which seemed all right. 81. Wangaloa Goal Mine, Wangaloa. —A new mine, near No. 80. The owner says he keeps a report. Inspected once. 82 to 88. All opencast. Have not been revisited. 89. Pukerau Goal Mine, Puherau. —Messrs. McKenzie were good enough to send in word that they had begun to mine for coal at this place, the old working having been opencast. I wish all coal-owners would show the same consideration in sending news of any change. 91 to 93. Opencast. Not revisited. Southland District. 94. Nightcaps Goal Mine, Nightcaps. —l have not visited this mine since June, 18S2. At that time the workings were always examined before the entrance of the men. The shaft was not properly fenced. Seam thin, and places pretty well aired by natural ventilation. At that time there were twenty-one men below, the open work being still covered by a large slip, to remove which two men were sluicing. Special rules will be established as soon as possible. 95 and 96. Openwork. Accidents. During 1882 there were two fatal accidents in the coal mines of this Island, and six non-fatal. The former were: (1) John Kalka, in the Brunner mine, fully reported on last year; and (2) J. Paskell was killed on the 18th October by a fall of gravel in his own openwork lignite mine, at Glenore, Otago. I heard of it at Greymouth on the 25th, and it was not considered necessary to make an investigation at the time. I had never heard of the mine, which has been worked for eighteen years. On the 22nd January, 1883, I visited the place, and was told that there had been no inquest. The stripping is 15 feet, and the accident appears to have been similar to any other quarry accident, only the man was getting coal, and therefore I have included it in the list. The accident at Canterbury Colliery has been mentioned. On the 9th May, 1882, a man named Dufty was hurt in the Dudley Coal Mine, Canterbury. I heard of it casually on the 13th August, and wrote to the owners inquiring. The accident happened thus : Two men were driving a heading in very hard rock, and, when a shot was blown out, Dufty is said to have rushed in and thrown powder into the hole :he was severely injured. Upon requesting an explanation why the report had not been sent as required, Messrs. Ford and Tipping stated that they were unaware of the requirements of the law. A copy of the Act was sent from the head office some time previous to the accident, and I myself called on Mr. Ford in Christchurch. On the 9th May, 1882, Ralph Hall (subsequently killed in the Imperial Quartz Mine) was hurt at the Banbury Mine, Westport. As he worked for three days without mentioning his injuries, he cannot have been very severely hurt. On the 29th July, 1882, Edward Stafford was injured at Shag Point by a fall of coal. This was reported on the 4th August, the reason being, " I should have given you notice before, but when I left home on Monday, the 31st, the doctor then thought he would not be kept off his work." On the Ist September, 1882, a boy, named McLelland, was injured by a fall of coal at the Banbury Mine, Westport. The accident was reported in time, but some necessary particulars were left out. On the 9th December, 1882, at the Banbury Mine, Westport, Peter Snayden was injured by some coal which he was trying to pull down. This was duly reported. These were all the bffnd fide mining accidents in collieries. It is worth while, perhaps, as bearing on the .investigation of accidents, to analyse the method of reporting, and the time occupied by the report in reaching my hands. Kalka's death was fully reported on last year. The report took seven days to reach me, and the inquiry was made before a jury, on which were ten employes of the mine. There was no adjournment and no notice from the Coroner. I was about 400 miles away. Paskell's death came to my knowledge in seven days by the local papers. I was