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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT APPENDIX A REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines Wellington, 25th May, 1043. Sir,— I have the honour to present my report on metalliferous mines and stone-quarries for the year ended 31st December, 1942. Owing to the necessity to conserve space, and other circumstances, no details are given on gold-mining, nor, as in former years, are any statistics included regarding the production from quartz-mining, dredge mining, or alluvial mining.

ACCIDENTS In 1942 110 fatal and five serious non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 1,645 persons were ordinarily employed.

Four serious non-fatal accidents occurred in the West Coast District—two in the Blackwater Mine, one on the Barrytown dredge, and the fourth at an old crushing battery. The serious non-fatal accident which occurred in the Northern District was at the Sylvia Mine-GOLD-MINING No new quartz mines were opened up during the year. Twelve of the thirteen dredges working in the West Coast District at the end of 1041 continued operating during 1042. In May the Argo dredge suspended operations, and three new dredges, the Slab Hut, Marsden, and Atarau, commenced operating. In the Southern District four dredges continued to operate, and a fifth, the Clutha, was reconstructed and refitted to be worked as a paddock dredge. PROSECUTIONS No informations were laid during 1042 by the Inspectors of Mines. MINERALS OTHER TITAN GOLD AND SILVER Asbestos.—From 534 cubic yards of serpentine 42§ tons of asbestos fibre, valued at £1,035, was produced from the Upper Takaka field. Bentonite and Fuller's Earth.—At Porangahau 500 tons of bentonite, worth £2,134, was mined. At Karno, 138 tons of Fuller's earth, worth £434, was produced. Diatomite. —At Kamo about 321 tons of diatomaceous earth, worth £361, and at Ngongotaha about 23 tons, worth £112, were produced. In Otago 74 tons of diatomaceous earth, valued at £112, was mined during 1042. Iron.—From near Whangarei 300 tons of limonite, valued at £1,060, was mined, and at Okaihau, North Auckland, 1,725 tons of limonite, worth £4,802, was won. In the Takaka district 408 tons of limonite, valued at £714, was quarried. Feldspar.—Twenty-four tons, of feldspar was produced from the Takaka. district. Manganese.—At Moumoukai 280 tons of manganese-ore was mined from Cloudesley's Mine, and from the Mirandite Products, Ltd.'s mine at Clevedon 41 tons was hand-sorted.

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Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. ause * Number of n t Number of Number of Separate J; n .r, Separate Persons Accidents. Accidents. injured. Falls of ground .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 5 2 Explosives Miscellaneous, on surface .. .. .. .. . . . . 3 3 Miscellaneous, underground .. . . . . .. Totals .. .. . . .. .. .. . . 5 5