C.—3.

b ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. Quartz-mines. Fatal. New Big River. —5/3/09: Frank Nankervis, miner, was killed by an explosion of gelignite, caused by striking portion of an unexploded charge remaining unnoticed in the butt of a hole. N on-fatal. Keep it Dark Mine. —8/4/09: Thomas Burns, miner, was crushed about the lower part of the body by a fall of stone while working in a stope. Progress Mines. —27/11/09: T. McArthur, vanner-man, sustained a broken arm while putting on vanner-belt, Alluvial Mines. Fatal. 23/1/09: Abraham R, Hayman, miner, was killed by a fall of earth while working on his alluvial claim at Giles Terrace. 12/2/09: John Sutherland Campliell, miner, was killed by a log he was cutting slipping and carrying him over a bank. Campbell was working alone on his claim near Lyell. Dredges. Fatal. Smeaton Syndicate Dredge. —2B/5/0!) : Charles Henry Perkins, engine-driver, was drowned by falling overboard into dredge-paddock. I have, &c, A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines.

Mr. A. H. Richards, Inspector of Mines, Hokitika, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department. Wellington. Sir,— Office of the Inspector of Mines, Hokitika, 27th May, 1910. I have the honour to report as follows on the gold-mines of Westland during the year ended 31st December, 1909. The Maori Gully Gold-mining Com jinny. —This mine has been worked successfully, and is now a dividend-payer. All works are in a satisfactory condition. With the exception of this mine and a few fossickers working when there is any water available, this once famous portion of the goldfields is practically deserted. Barrytown. Messrs. McKay and White have worked their claim successfully, employing thirteen men. The method adopted for dealing with this extensive sand-deposit is by elevating and sluicing over a wide range of tables, thereby saving a large percentage of the gold contained in the sands. Cape Terrace. Burr and Party (three). —Having only an intermittent supply of water this party earned an average wage. With a plentiful water-supply this claim could be very profitably worked. Loughman and, Party (four). —This party has a much better supply of water, but they could do with more, as they have good facilities for disposing of tailings. They continue to earn a most comfortable wage. Tansie and Party. —This party has the best water-supply in this district, and continue to work their property in a successful manner. All works in good order. Haye's Terrace. The various parties that have hitherto made a livelihood with only- an intermittent water supply are now sanguine of reaping their reward as soon as the extension of the Government water-race across the River Taramakau is completed. Kumara No. 5 Channel. —F. G. Thorn continues to work profitably, with an average of eight men during the year. As this channel is a long one, they find the upkeep with such a small party a very heavy tax. No. 9 Channel. —Since the completion of the deviation the Long Tunnel Company has driven their tail-race from the deviation, and are now sluicing. Five men employed. Pug Hill, owned by Mr. T. McGrath, has been worked most successfully, with an average of twelve men. All works in first-class order. Callaghan's. J. Manzoni, during the past year, has carried out very profitable mining in addition to a considerable amount of development. Quite a number of claims were taken up in Mosquito Gully, owing to the rich wash struck by Reeder and party (four), Linklater and Honey (four), Hyndman and Thorp (two), Masherine (one), Havel and party (six), R. I. Hunt and son (one), Wells and party (four.) Since they are entirely dependent on the rainfall, there being no convenient sites for dams, with catchmentareas of adequate area, the number of miners has greatly decreased on the hillside. The sluicing-channel subsidised by the Mines Department is completed, and sluicing operations should soon be commenced.

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