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H.—l3.

Return of Accidents to Life and Limb in the Auckland District — continued.

The Inspector of Machinery, Wellington District, to the Chief Inspector of Machinery. Sir, — Office of Inspector of Machinery, Wellington, 30th May, 1885. I have the honour to forward you the annual report on the boilers and machinery in the Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson North, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay Districts for the year ended the 31st March, 1885. lam glad to be able to state that during the above period no accidents have occurred to life or limb; only two accidents of at all a serious nature have occurred to boilers ; in connection with machinery, none. There are 505 workable boilers in the above districts, 381 of which have been inspected during the year, 62 have extended certificates, 32 are idle, and 30 were still to inspect at the end of the year. The above numbers include 8 new boilers, 6of which have been manufactured in the colony and 2 imported. Appended are returns showing the class, horse-power, and number of boilers inspected; the fees payable for the inspection of boilers and machinery; the number of notices given to fence dangerous parts of machinery ; the number of notices given to repair boilers; the number of accidents to boilers; and the number and description of machinery inspected in the different districts. Verbal notices to fence machinery and also to repair boilers have been given when the work was of a trivial nature, and could be done while, I was on the spot. I have, &c, The Chief Inspector of Machinery. H. A. McGregor.

Return showing the Number of Land Boilers inspected in the Wellington District during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1885.

Name and Address of Owner. Description of Machinery. Name of Person injured. Nature of Accident. Fatal or not. Cause of Accident, and Remarks. New Zealand Timber Co., Whangapoua Saw-mill John Turner, aged 22 years Both arms taken off, 16th Oct. Fatal Employed removing saw-dust from below the mill. Part of his clothing and the grindstone-belt were found entangled on the shaft. The grindstone was not in motion five minutes previous to the accident, the belt being off and hanging on a nail in the wall. The deceased was seen near to it at this time. He never spoke after the accident, so it will remain a mystery as to how it occurred: his duties did not take him near it, as he had nothing whatever to do with the machinery. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. Thomas HobWas employed cutting timber. While pushing it to the saw he kept his right hand on too long, and the saw, getting through the cut, took off the thumb and two fingers. 3r. H. Maguire, Auckland Wood-working machinery, circular saw Thumb and two fingers off right hand, 2nd Dec. Not .. son

Number of Portable Boilers. Number of Stationary Boilers. Name of District. Under 5 to 10 Over 5 h.p. h.p. 10 h.p. Under 5 to 10 Over 5 h.p. h.p. 10 h.p. Total. Wellington ... Marlborough Nelson North Taranaki Hawke's Bay 5 2 3 23 12 21 12 12 13 3 6 5 6 24 5 18 3 5 35 8 16 12 13 66 14 8 10 17 166 44 72 42 57 4 Total 14 80 33 55 84 115 381