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ACCIDENTS, DISPUTES UNDER " THE INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT, 1894," AND LEGAL DECISIONS DURING THE YEAR 1899-1900. ACCIDENTS. Auckland (32). —A man received a severe cut on the foot by coming into contact with a cir-cular-saw. A man engaged washing sacks at the sugar-works was severely scalded through falling into the water he was using. A man employed at a sawmill received a severe blow on the eye through a piece of timber catching the saw and being thrown back, striking him violently, as stated. An apprentice engineer employed at railway workshops received severe injury through clothing becoming entangled on shaft of lathe. A young woman employed at a laundry lost joint of finger through its being caught in a wringing-machine. The remaining twenty-seven cases were of a very slight nature, consisting of slight cuts and bruises, and necessitated absence from work for a few days. Aratapu (1, fatal). —The deceased was an employe of the Kauri Timber Company, and an experienced sawyer. By some means he became entangled in the driving-belt. A Coroner's inquest was held, and a verdict of " Accidental death" was returned, " no blame being attachable to any one." Whangaroa (1, serious). —A man employed at a sawmill lost an eye through a piece of timber flying off the saw and striking him. Inglewood (3, serious). —A young man employed at a furniture-factory lost an arm through its becoming entangled in a driving-belt, which he was adjusting whilst the machinery was in motion. Another young mau employed at the same factory lost three fingers of his right hand by contact with a planing-machine. A young man employed at a sawmill had his hand severely cut by contact with a planing-machine. Eltham (2, severe). —A man employed at a sawmill had one toe taken off and three others broken through being crushed on the skids whilst logging. A man working at a sawmill, engaged in logging, got crushed between two logs. Hawera (2). —Slight cuts necessitating absence from work for a few days. Wanganui (3, slight). —A man had his foot crushed at a sawmill. A boy had his hand slightly cut by a circular-saw at a brush-factory. A man employed at the railway workshops received a slight cut by a circular-saw he was using. Napier (2, slight). —Necessitated absence from work for a few days in each case. Palmerston North (3). —A lad employed at a furniture-factory lost four fingers of left hand through contact with a circular-saw he was using contrary to instructions. A youth employed at a flaxmill had his arm fractured whilst trying to adjust the driving-belt of a Californian pump in motion. A man employed at a flaxmill at Linton seriously injured through the bursting of a drum. Masterton (1). —A man received serious injury to his head through the bursting of an emerywheel whilst he was engaged in sharpening tools. Foxton (1, fatal). —The victim was a contractor. Seeing that a belt came off, he went to the intermediate shaft to adjust without slowing down the machinery, with the result that he became entangled, and received such injuries that he died shortly after. Levin (1). —A man employed at a sawmill was engaged in logging when a chain broke and flew back, striking him on the head, inflicting severe scalp-wound. Wellington (57). —A youth employed at railway workshops received severe cut on arm by contact with circular-saw. A girl employed at a laundry received severe injury to her hand through its being caught in steam-mangle. A girl employed at a soap-factory received serious injury through being caught in the machinery. In this case the firm were prosecuted under section 28 for failing to guard their machinery, but the case was dismissed through the argument of defending counsel, who held that a notice should have been issued under "The Inspection of Machinery Act, 1882," to fence the machinery, and as Inspector of Factories has no power under that Act the case broke down. The remaining fifty-four accidents were of a slight character, necessitating absence from work for a few days. Many of these cases do not come within the schedule of the Act. Blenheim. —A man employed feeding the stripper at a flaxmill lost the top joint of his finger through its being caught in feed-rollers. Christchurch (39). —A man employed at an engineering works lost three fingers of left hand through being caught by the knives of a planing-machine. A man employed at a boot-factory received serious injury through his coat-sleeve catching on the driving-shaft. A boy employed at a boot-factory was severely injured by being caught in the machinery. A youth employed at a furniture-factory lost three fingers of left hand through being caught iv planing-machine. A man employed at a fellmongery fell back into a concrete pit and fractured base of skull. A man employed at a foundry had his foot broken through a large pulley falling on it. An engineer employed at freezing-works, whilst adjusting a fan, slipped and broke his arm. A man employed at a printing-office slipped and fell with his arm across the pinion-wheels, and received severe injury to his left arm. A youth employed in a furniture-factory lost all the fingers of left hand through contact with a circular-saw. A man employed at meat-preserving works lost a thumb

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