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difficulty of getting in tight stoppings in the broken ground. Timber plentifully used, and roadways and working-places in good order. The " Hayes " fan recently erected, running at 180 revolutions, produced 33,120 cubic feet of air per minute. Water-gauge, in. (23/4/1902), (A. Love, manager) : Return airway in good order. Fire stoppings have been placed at the heads of all the jigs to the south level, and are well attended to. The pillars are somewhat crushed, and a little leakage of damp prevails. Only seven men on the average are now employed in repairing and getting coal for surface requirements. (31/7/1902) : Connection has been made between the iron main jig and the coal-faces. One holing-machine is at work in the upper level. A good deal of timbering has been done in the main roadways and air-courses, and the back airway is now a good travelling-road. Ventilation good, Report-book to date. (28/10/1902) : Work underground limited to four men producing coal for surface-boiler consumption. The whole of the old district now closed off; fire stoppings in, and well looked after. Air excellent. Roadways and workingplaces well timbered and safe. Remarks. The output of coal and lignite (Southern District) during the year 1902 amounted to 419,179 tons, a total increase of 24,112 tons over the previous year. Returns of output from the several portions of the district are as follows :— Tons. Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ... 19,445 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 308,310 Southland ... .. ... ... ... ... 91,424 419,179 Output for previous year ... ... ... ... ... 395,067 Increase .. ... ... ... ... 24,112 The contributions to the Coal-miners' Relief Fund amounted to £409 19s. 9d., while payments from the fund had been recommended amounting to £338 2s. 3d. Accidents. There have not been any fatal accidents in coal-mines in this district during the year. A total of seventy-nine accidents have been reported to me, only a few of which might be termed serious, a large proportion being of a trivial nature, and resulted in the men being only a few days off work. Of the above total, fifteen were accidents to eyes, two of which were aggravated and rendered serious by the patients' delay in visiting medical men. The rules issued by the Department for treatment of eye accidents have been extensively circulated, and the number of such cases has perceptibly decreased. 17th February, 1902.—Archibald Dobbie, trucker, Orepuki Shale-mine : Finger jammed between box and rail; subsequently amputated at the first joint. 26th July, 1902. —E. Middlemas, youth, rope-attendant at Castle Hill pit-bank : Bruised thigh ; tripped and fell over a low embankment at the mine-mouth. Bth September, 1902.—Thomas Gray, banksman, Fernhill Colliery : Fracture of forearm while attempting to prevent a loaded box of coal from tipping up. 30th September, 1902.—James Marsh, miner, Homebush Colliery : Bruised shoulder; while wedging a fall of coal off the pillar side a flake came away unexpectedly. 25th October, 1902.—Alexander Graydon, miner, McDonald's Pit, Wendon : Fracture of leg by flying coal from a shot in the face. I have, &c, E. R. Green, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.