H.—l3.

36

Return of Accidents to Life and Limb which have occurred in connection with Land Boilers and Machinery in the Otago District during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1885.

The accident was not witnessed by any person, the first intimation being by a boy, who saw something wrong with the belt, and who immediately ran and shut steam off, when the deceased was found entangled in the belt of the firewood-saw and wound around the laying-shaft, having received so much injury that he died shortly after being removed to the hospital at Invercargill. At the inquest on the body there, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no one being to blame, as the machinery was all well fenced. As far as I can form an opinion as to how this accident occurred, it was evident he was going to repair this particular belt, as he had the tools there for that purpose. Instead of throwing off the belt in the usual way, it is supposed he used his foot, possibly losing his balance, and, falling, was entangled in the belt and wound round the laying-shaft.

Summary of Inspections. Number of Inspections ... ... ... ... ... ... 411 Machinery inspected ... ... ... ... ... ... 379 Beturn of Defects found in Boilers ... ... ... ... ... 55 Beturn of Written Notices given to repair Boilers ... ... ... 18 Beturn of Verbal Notices given to repair Boilers ... ... ... 14 Beturn of Notices given to fence Dangerous Parts of Machinery - ... 47 Beturn of Defects found on the Inspection of Machinery ... ... 23 Beturn of Accidents to Boilers and Machinery ... ... ... 3 Beturn of Accidents to Life and Limb occasioned in connection with Land Boilers and Machinery during the Year ended the 31st March, 1885 ... 2

The Inspector of Machinery, Canterbury District, to the Chief Inspector of Machinery. Sir,— Christchurch, 9th May, 1885. I have the honour to forward to you annual report on boilers and machinery inspected by me in the Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson South Districts up to the 31st March, in the same forms as last year. I am thankful to be able to report but one accident to life or limb during the year, and no serious accidents to boilers or machinery. There is an increase in the number of boilers inspected, although, for want of time, that part of my district between the Bangitata and Bakaia Bivers has not been inspected. You will observe that for threshing purposes portable-engines are being superseded by tractionengines. I shall be glad to supply any further information you may require. I have, &c, The Chief Inspector of Machinery, Wellington. George Croll.

Name and Address of Owner. Description of Machinery. Name of Person injured. Nature of Accident. Fatal or not. Cause of Accident, and Bomarks. 'he Dunedin Iron and Wood ware Company, Dunedin Circular saw .. James Pollock, aged nineteen Four fingers off left hand; 29th October, 1884 Not .. James Pollock, aged nineteen years, employed as taller at small breastbench circular - saw. After having tightened up the belt, was trying the saw with a small piece of timber, similar to a bucket-stave. In cutting it, he kept his hand too long on the timber, and, the saw coming through, cut four fingers off left hand. This accident took place about 2.30 p.m. on the 2nd December last, at A. Tapper's lower mill, Longhush. Alfred Tapper, Longbush, Invercargill Laying-shaft, saw-mill machinery J. Walker Miller, aged fifty years, enginedriver and fireman, fouryrs. Right leg broken in two places, right arm completely destroyed, ribs and breast-bone broken Fatal