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C—3a

The contributions paid by the colliery-owners to the Coal-miners' Accident Relief Fund, under the Public Trust Account, was £467 14s. 10d., while payments made towards accident relief amounted to £308 4s. 6d., leaving a balance of £159 10s. 4d. Accidents. Of the number of accidents reported as coining within the meaning of section 60 of " The Coalmines Act, 1905," three were fatal and twelve non-fatal. Of the persons killed, two were underground at or near the working-face, and the other was a minei who fell over a cliff at Denniston while returning from his work at midnight. Fatal. Denniston Colliery. —(27/7/1906) : Alfred Archer, miner, killed by fall of stone about 9 yards from the face while taking loaded truck down incline. Tyneside Colliery. —(27/9/1906) : William John Morris, miner, killed by falling prop in the face. Denniston Colliery. —(24/10/1906) : James Wilson, miner, killed by accidentally falling over a cliff while returning from work. Non-Fatal. Seddonville Colliery. —(5/2/1906) : John Harris, miner, sustained fracture of small bone of right leg while escaping from small fall of soft side coal. Millerton Colliery. —(19/5/1906) : Charles Sibree, miner, had chest injured by falling off ladder in the face. Point Elizabeth Colliery. —(l9/5/1906) : Andrew O'Neil, miner, sustained fracture of right leg and slight injury to head, escaping from small fall of stone while working in a pillar face. Denniston Colliery. —(ls/6/1906) : C. Peterson, trucker, sustained fracture of leg by runaway empties striking full box which he was trucking. Millerton Colliery. —(5/7/1906) : Charles Lewis, miner, sustained injury to back and knee by fall of roof coal while setting timber. Millerton Colliery. —(3/7/1906) : Charles Grey, timberman, slipped on flatsheet while carrying a prop, and sustained severe strain. Millerton Colliery. —(lo/7/1906) : James Young, rope-road worker, slipped on rail and had left side and head injured by full truck. Millerton Colliery. —(l6/8/1906) : Frederick Smith, machine apprentice, had ribs and legs bruised b} r fall of coal in the face. Point Elizabeth Colliery.— {l7/10/1906) : James Kyle, trucker, sustained compound fracture of left leg by falling between two trucks in No. 1 tunnel district. Point Elizabeth Colliery. —(30/10/1906) : Robert Wilson, miner, sustained injury to back by piece of coal slipping from cutting side while he was kneeling in working-face. Point Elizabeth Colliery. —(s/11/1906) : John Kershaw, trucker, had ribs injured by runaway truck. Millerton Colliery. —(17/12/1906) : David McKenzie, miner, sustained injury to left side and arm by hanging shot coming away and smashing him against prop. Prosecutions. Denniston Colliery. —(22/5/1906) : Warden's Court, Westport. Proceedings were instituted against a trucker employed at Ironbridge Mine for breach of Special Rules 30 and 33. Proved guilty of breach of Special Rule No. 30, and fined £3, with costs £2 9s. Blackball Colliery. —(8/10/1906) : At the Warden's Court, Greymouth, legal proceedings were instituted on one count affecting two persons employed at this colliery for breach of Special Rule No. 36. Both parties pleaded guilty. Fines and costs, £3 16s. each. Millerton Colliery. —(l7/10/1906) : Warden's Court, Westport.. Proceedings were instituted against a coal-cutting-machine man for breach of Special Rule No 36. Accused pleaded guilty, and was fined £1, with £1 Bs. costs. General Remarks. Throughout the year the productive capacities of the West Coast collieries have maintained a steadv and marked increase, the gross tonnage sold being 962,915 tons, as compared with 856,227 tons for the year 1905. The increase for the year 1906 was 106,688 tons, as against that of 19,277 tons for the preceding year. New Leases. Westport Naval Coal Company. —(Cooke's lease) : According to notes received from Mr. R. Young, Westport, acting attorney for the company, working-capital to the amount of £100,000 has been subscribed in England. The surveys and plans in connection with the projected surface works are just completed. In addition to the £1,000 deposited on receipt of lease, local expenses in surveys, &c, was £840 ; London expenses, £500. Foreign Trade. Westport Coal Company. —The total tonnage shipped directly from Westport to ports outside the colony during the year 1906 was 33,245 tons, this being a decrease of 1,524 tons as compared with 34,769 tons for the year 1905, and in comparison with the year 1904 a decrease of 11,074 tons. I have, &c, R. Tennent, i Inspector of Mines.