C.—2.

Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Ten serious non-fatal accidents occurred during tho year as follows :— On 25th January, 1938, Horace Willman, miner, Charming Creek Mine, Ngakawau, received three fractured ribs when a fall of stone and coal occurred while he was working at the face. On 13tli May, 1938, Albert Goddard, miner, Stockton Mine, Ngakawau, received severe bruises and abrasions over the body, extensive lacerated wound of leg, and fractured ribs when buried by a fall of top coal while he was in the act of setting a prop. On 16th June, 1938, Peter McCann, miner, Denniston Colliery, Denniston, while sitting down having his lunch, was struck on the ankle by a small piece of stone and received a small fracture of the right fibula. On 22nd June, 1938, E. Hale, deputy, Charming Creek Mine, Ngakawau, received a fractured right leg when struck by a falling bar. On 26th August, 1938, S. Kelly, miner, Ironbridge Mine (Denniston Colliery), Denniston, whilst pushing out a full truck, approximately £ cwt. of coal fell from the roof and struck him, causing a fractured right upper arm. On Bth September, 1938, William Spence, rope-road worker, Wallsend Mine, Brunnerton, sustained a fractured left arm above the wrist. He was apparently pushing a truck backwards and his arm was caught between the moving truck and a stationary truck. On 13th Septembor, 1938, John Henry Oates, trucker, Clele Mine (Alborn and party), Reefton, sustained a fractured left tibia and fibula with extensive bruises. He was struck by a full truck at the bottom of the jig. On 20th September, 1938, Michael Meadowcroft, horse-driver, Paparoa Mine, Roa, jammed his foot between a derailed truck and some timber which was piled at the side of the road. He received a fractured left fibula above the ankle. On 16th November, 1938, T. W. Nicholson, miner, Liverpool Mine, Rewanui, received fractured right wrist and right leg above the ankle and severe bruises. While preparing to set a prop under the top coal, the coal (without support) fell towards him, and a piece 60 lb. in weight struck his chest and small coal buried him to the waist. On 18th November, 1938, J. Mtzsimmons, miner, Stockton Mino, Ngakawau, was struck by a fall of top coal while engaged on pillar-extraction. He sustained a compound fracture of the right leg abovo the anklo and extousivc bruises to ohest and right ribs. Dangerous Occurrences in Coal-mines.—(Regulation 82, Coal-mines Act). Moynihan's Old Workings, Keefton. —As a result of a notification that an outcrop of coal was burning near what is known as Moynihan's Old Working's, the area, which is situated on the south side of Boatman's River alongside tho Cronadun-Capleston Road, was inspected on the 7th and 15th January, 1938. Near the eastern outcrop of the old workings there is an outcrop of a small scam of coal in a hill. The ferns on the hillside had been burned, and this had evidently set fire to the small outcrop. On tho 19th April Mr. E. Cohen, of Capleston, advised that he had extinguished the fire. Bumwdl Mine (D. Ilamill), Reefton. —Notification was received from Mr. D. Hamill, dated Ist February, 1.938, that he was suspicious that heating was taking place in one of the places off the main level. The mine was inspected on the Bth February, and it was found that heating was definitely taking place in an old bord north of tho main level where a large fall had occurred. The heating was giving off CO and CO a . The mine-manager, in accordance with instructions, erected a stopping which proved effective, and the mine was cloared of noxious gases. Paparoa Colliery, Roa. —On 28th February, 1938, the mine-manager notified that an inrush of water had occurred in Stenhouse's place throe days previously. Tho water had come through the stone roof evidently from an area where pillars had been oxtracted in the aerial section. The place was approximately 8 chains distant from these workings and the area between was all solid coal. Tho flow gradually diminished and eventually ceased. Millerton Colliery, Oranity. —On 28th February, 1.938, notification was reooived by telegram that a serious outbreak of fire had occurred in Mine Creek Mine, Millerton. The fire broke out in worked-out panel D, which is in the third west section. The panel was sealed off. However, tho fire burned over a stopping and extended to panel E, and that panol had to be sealed off also. Main Drive into Strongman Mine, Nine-mile. —On the 3rd March, 1938, tho superintendent notified that gas was ignited on the Ist March in the Main Drive into the Strongman Mine. One of the workman ignited, with a naked light, a blower of gas that was given off from the floor. Safety-lamps were then installed. Stockton Colliery, Ngakawau.—On 30th March, 1938, the mine-manager notified that an inrush of surface water had occurred in tho new east section duo to heavy rains. A2O in. concrete stopping was put in closo to tho break to tho surface to prevent any moro water coming from this particular place. Spark and Party's Mine, Rewanui. —On 2nd April, 1938, tho mine-manager reported that a slight accident had happened to a workman who had his hands burned when he was lighting a cigarette at the fan-exhaust. The fan had been stopped for four hours previous to the accident owing to a breakdown. There were no witnesses to tho accident. Wallsend Colliery, Wallsend. —On 26th April, 1938, the mine-manager notified that during his inspection of the main headings, 4th panel and 3rd panel, a large accumulation of Oil was discovered, 6 chains of drive in the 3rd panel being fouled. A stopping was found to be damaged by a fall of side coal. The workmon, with the exception of those required to clear the gas, were withdrawn from the mine. Tho accumulation was cleared at 8.30 p.m. Millerton Colliery, Oranity.—On the 4th May, 1938, the mine-manager reported that evidence of spontaneous combustion was discovered in panel K, sixth west section, the previous day. The panel was closed off and everything made safe. Wallsend Colliery, Wallsend. —On the 14th June, 1938, the mino-manager reported that the morning deputy had discovered an accumulation of gas in the Ist panel (5,000 cubic feet of 4 per cent, mixture). At 7.15 a.m. tho underviewer examined the place and, as the gas could not be cleared in time, the shift was not allowed to start. It was later found that a stopping had been damaged by a fall of side coal and this had reduced tho amount of air circulating in the top corner of No. 1 panel, whore a heavy gas-feeder had been troublesome for some time previously. A new stopping was erected and the place oleared of gas. Liverpool Colliery, Rewanuii —The mine-manager notified on the 19th July, 1938, that two workmen had been withdrawn from their working-place in Kimbell west dip on the previous day. A small feeder of gas coming from a parting along the roof could not be shifted. The place was rising very steeply and approaching a fault-line. Kaye and Party's Mine, Ten-mile.—On 3rd August, 1938, while inspecting the prospecting rise in No. 1 level with the mine-manger, CH 4 was detected on the safety-lamp (estimated quantity 375 cubic feet). This place had been abandoned on the 29th July and fenced off. The manager stated that he had found a very small quantity of gas that day which had been removed, but had not been reported. Tho accumulation was on the return side of all the workmen and the nearest working-face was 5 chains distant on the intake side. All workmen were using naked lights. As the result of finding CH.j, all the workmon were withdrawn and the manager was instructed that only safety-lamps must be used in future. This instruction has been carried out.

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