C—2.

SECTION lII.—ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of coal-mining accidents during 1918, with their causes : —

The death-rate from accidents was 1-50 per 1,000 persons employed, or 2-95 deaths per 1,000,000 tons of coal produced. All of the six fatalities were due. to falls ; with proper care most of these would have been avoided. The explanation for nearly all of the fata] accidents was the usual concealed joint known to miners as "greasy," "slippery," or "sooty" "backs." The most reliable preventive of such dangers is provided for in the regulations —viz., by systematic timbering right up to the face, and by the frequent use of sounding-rods and ladders for high places. During my inspections I seldom visit a colliery without finding one or more cases of needless risk being taken by miners by failure to support the roof and face of-their working-places. In the case of William Downs, killed by a fall at Blackball Colliery, the, evidence at the, inquest showed that there, was no sounding-rod or ladder in the working-place, although the overhanging coal which fell was 15 ft. above the floor. In the ease of Prank Mitchell, killed by a fall in the Wareatea Section of the Coalbrookdalc Colliery, it is probable that if the use of props and bars had been insisted upon by the management, as instructed by Inspector Newton and myself, this accident: would not have occurred. The following is a description of fatal accidents in connection with coal-mining operations during 1.918 :—

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Fatal Ac icidents. Serious Non-i !atal Accidents. ~ I H~ Number of Soparate Fatal Accidents, Number of Deaths. Number of Separate Non-fatal Accidents. | Numbor of Persons injured, including those injured by Accidents which proved Fatal to their Companions. Explosions of fire-damp or coaldust Palls of ground Explosives... Haulage Miscellaneous—Underground... On surface ... 1 1 fl fi 8 10 2 12 . "2 12 Totals 6 23 25

Date. Name and Situation of Colliery. Name, Ago, and Occupation of Person killed. Description of Accident, and Remarks. 1918. 7 Jan. Blackball Colliery, Blackball William Downs (32), m iner In H level, Section 17, of the panel workings, he was with his mate employed bringing back in a retreating manner overhead coal from above a split through a pillar. Tho split was about 64 ft. high and 8$ ft. wide when first driven. The coal-seam 18 ft. abovo its floor contains a clay band about 1 ft. in thickness, above which the top coal is left unworked for a roof. He was preparing a shot in the overhanging coal and band, at a height of about 15 ft. above tho floor, when a fall occurred without warning, covering him and Inflicting injuries from which ho died the following day. No sounding-rod or ladder was provided in. the place to enable an. examination of tho overhead coal and roof, which is in this mine extremely treacherous, and has caused several fatal accidents. Tho , Coroner, when giving his verdict at the inquest, stated that " sounding-rods, prickers, and ladders should bo provided in any place whore the height exceeds 9 ft. or 10 ft. But I do not find that in this case deceased's death was in any way caused by the want of any of those appliances." There is no provision in the Coal-mines Act or Regulations that they shall be supplied. He was working with his mate in a lift off a pillar in D section of the mine when about 10 owt. of coal foil without warning from, a slippery joint, striking and. killing him almost immediately. 'The height from the floor to the strong sandstone roof was about 10 ft. A clay parting occurred in the coalseam 2$ ft. below the roof ; from this parting the joint extended 3 ft. to the. roof. At the inquest the mate of deceased stated that tho face of the lift whore tho fall occurred was practically square and did not overhang ; no sprag or face prop was sot, The Coroner's jury found that no blame was attachable to any one. The circumstances raise a doubt as to the, adequacy of the roof-support prior to the full. The "slippery joint" was then invisible, but such must everywhere bo anticipated by systematic tim boring. Edward John Paterson (32), miner 4 April Westport-Stockton Colliery, Mangatina