35

H.—24.

Return of Notices given to remove Dangerous Parts of Machinery in the Otago District during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1886.

Summary of Inspections.. Number of Inspections ... ... ... ... ... ... 505 Machinery inspected ... ... ... ... ... ... 454 Defects found on the Inspection of Boilers and Fittings ... ... 41 Eeturn of Accidents to Boilers and Machinery reported ... ... 2 Eeturn of Notices given to repair Boilers ... ... ... ... 23 Return of Notices given to remove Dangerous Parts of Machinery ... 1 Eeturn of Notices given to fence Dangerous Parts of Machinery ... 6 Eeturn of Accidents to Life and Limb ... ... ... ... 2

The Inspector of Machineey, Canterbury Disteict, to the Chief Inspector of Machinery. Sic, — Christchurch, Bth May, 1886. I have the honour to forward annual report of boilers and machinery inspected in the Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson South Districts during tho financial year ending the 31st March, 1886. The forms used in the report are the same as formerly, and, should any further particulars be required, I shall be happy to supply them. ■ For want of sufficient time, the Canterbury District has not been thoroughly inspected this year, and there are therefore some boilers at work without certificates. The Westland District has been thoroughly inspected, and I was engaged in the Nelson South District at the close of the year. It has been all inspected since, and will appear in the next annual report. In all cases where repairs to boilers or protection to machinery were required, I found all owners ready to comply with my instructions; so I do not consider it desirable always to serve written notice for repairs or protections. I have, &c, The Chief Inspector of Machinery, Wellington, Geoege Ceoll,

,e o otice. Description o: .ao. unery. faturc o: .ao. unery ie remove* 1886. Jan. 14 ... Saw-mill machinery Circular saw cracked. Ietuen of Accidents to Life and Limb which have occurred in connection with Land Boilebs and Machineby in the Otago Distbict during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1886. Name and Address of Owner. Description of Machinery. Name of Person injured. Fatal Naturo of Accident, or not. Cause of Accident and Bemarks. llessrs. Findlay and Co., timber merchants, Duncdin Jeorge Hyndman, working - jeweller, Moray Place, Dunedin Circular saw .. Slitting-ma-chine, a small iron disc-saw, for cutting greenstone Neil Shaw, sawyer, aged forty-two; Oct. 13, 1885 Humphrey Stevenson, aged fourteen; 18th April, 18S5 Two fingers cut off left hand Right arm broken Not Not This accident was caused through the slipping of a block of wood he was cutting, and was purely accidental. Boys are employed to attend these machines, and, to enable them to put the belts off and on, a fixed stool is attached to each machine; the stool is 3ft. high, and the driving-shaft 7ft. from the floor; this enables them to put their belts on easily without any danger; but it seems that this boy went up on the bench, which is 4ft. high above the floor. This, of necessity, placed him so high, that he was partly above the shaft, when he put his arm over the shaft, which immediately caught his shirt, dragging his arm round and breaking it in two places. The driving - shaft is IJin. in diameter, and the belt lin. broad. This accident was entirely tho boy's own fault, as boys arc not allowed to go on to the bench, and could in no way be prevented by any fencing.