C—2

The fatal accidents were in the proportion of 1-40 per 1,000 persons employed. The total number of quarry accidents is the lowest since the Act came into operation during 1910. Both the fatal accidents were caused by falls of rock. That by which James Ward Cotton, a, carter, lost his life at Shiel's quarry, Dunedin, was due to neglect by the management in not making the face safe. A fine of £20 and costs was inflicted for this breach of the law. In the case of John King, quarry foreman, killed at Cobden quarry, the evidence at the inquest showed that deceased took a risk by working under loose rock, and that no other person was blame;worthy. The non-fatal accidents were only four in number. The regular and efficient inspection of stone-quarries by experienced Inspectors of Mines, who are also Inspectors of Stone-quarries, has greatly improved the conditions of the stone-quarries as regards safety. The following is a description of fatal accidents during 1918 at quarries which are under the Stone-quarries Act: —

VII. STATE AID TO MINING. (1.) Subsidized Prospecting. During the year ended 31st March, 1919, nine approved prospecting parties were granted subsidies amounting to £1,404 lis. Bd., of which £1,206 Is. Bd. was expended duing that period. In, addition to this, £9,942 lis. Id. granted during previous years was expended by ten parties during the past financial year. The following statement shows the total expenditure during the year ended 31st March, 1919 :— £ s. d. Tauranga County .. .. .. .. 479 6 8 Coromandel County .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 0 0 Thames County .. .. .. .. .. .. 106 13 4 Ohinemuri County .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 0 0 Pelorus Road District .. .. .. .. .. 17 10 0 Grey County .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Buller County .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 13 4 Westland County . . . . .. 315 19 0 Prospecting associations, &c. .. .. .. .. .. *10,039 9 11 Total .. .. .. .. .. £11,148 12 9

* Includes subsidy to Boatman's Consolidated Gold-mining Company (Limited), £9.201 os. 3d, : and to TeviotMolyneux Gold-mining Company (Limited), £500,

24

i..,»,. Name anil Situation uale ' of Quarry. Name, Age, and Occupation of Person killed. Description of Accident, and Remarks, I! July Shiel's quarry, St. Clair, Dunedin .fames Ward Cotton (42), carter He was sent by his employer, 0. J. Mead, a carting contractor to the Dunedin City Council, to Shiel's quarry to load stone into his dray. On arrival there ho was directed by Henry J. Harrison, quarry foreman, to back his dray and load broken stono from a fall at the face near an ovorhanging basalt column, the base of which had been removed by blasting some time previously. While he was loading at the place directed a small fall of stone occurred from the overhanging face, striking him on the head and inflicting injuries from which he died five days later. Shiel's quarry has boon worked for about twentyfivo yoars, and has a front of about 200 yards, and a maximum height of about 102 ft. The quarry, owing to the almost perpendicular Assured and jointed basalt columns, was worked from the bottom by blasting tho base of each column separately, and removing workmen from the vicinity until the column fell; by this method there had been no serious accident for many years. In the case of this accident, however, the above precaution had not been taken, and deceased was put to load stone under an unfa Hon column, with the result stated. Tho quarry foreman, Mr. Harrison, was subsequently prosecuted by the Inspector of Stono-quarries, Mr. E. R. Green, for broaches of section 9 (d) of tho Stone-quarries Act, and of Regulation 1 under that Act, in that the quarry at tho time of the accident was not securely protected and mado safe for persons employed therein, and that tho working of tho quarry was not carried out so as to prevent dangerous falls. A conviction with a fine of £20 and costs was imposed. When holding dog-hooks in position upon a large stone about 60 ft. up the quarry-faco, preparatory to tho stono being lowered by a crane, a fall of loose stones occurred from above that being moved, two of which stones, of considerable size, knocked him down and pinned him to tho ground, inflicting injuries from which he died the following day. He was an experienced and careful quarryman, but committed an error of judgment by not first removing the stones which fell. Tho face of the quarry where the fall occurred has a slope of about 45°. 26 Aug. : Cobden quarry, Greymouth John J. H. A. King, quarry foreman I