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Fatal and Serious Accidents There were two accidents, one fatal and the other non-fatal. The victims were J. R. Buckeridge and J. Cornthwaite respectively, employees of the Martha Gold-mining Co. Buckeridge was adjusting a chain sling to the detached part of a rock-breaker, and while doing so passed within the range of a moving belt, when he was seen to fall backwards to the ground. He was picked up, but died soon afterwards, and a subsequent examination revealed that his death was due to hemorrhage and laceration of the brain. It is assumed that he was struck on the head by a fastener of the belt. Cornthwaite was repairing stamper gear in the Waikino battery, and while working on top of a frame must have struck his head on an overhead beam, for ho was seen to fall to the floor below and was picked up unconscious. He suffered a bad cut on the left forehead and two broken wrists. Prosecutions There were no prosecutions. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (G. W. Lowes, Inspector of Mines) Quartz-mining Marlborough, Butter, Grey, Westland, and Murchison Counties There was no activity in gold-mining or prospecting during the year in the above counties, excepting the reopening of No. 3 level in the Empire City Mine at Deep Creek, in the Marlborough County. A distance of 300 ft. of the drive has been reconditioned, and when the ore channel has been reached crosscutting will be undertaken to locate a section of the lode/that was displaced by faulting. Inangahua County Blackwater Mine, Waiuta. —Development during the year was very limited owing to shortage of labour. The total footage advance amounted to 1,353 ft., of which 1,211 ft. were done in driving exposing 744 ft. of reef averaging 13-04 dwt. over a width of 27 ins. Thus 01-4 per cent, of the driving was on reef and 38-6 per cent, in country. Of the 744 ft. driven on reef, 06 ft. were on unpayable reef averaging 3-54 dwt. over 21 in. in the No. 15 Level Drive South and the total pay reef exposed for the year was 078 ft. averaging 13-75 dwt. over a width of 28 in., compared with 014 ft. averaging 15 • 51 dwt. over 33 in. for the previous year. The results obtained from the main development points were as follows :— No 12 Level Drive North : This drive was advanced 87 ft., of which 49 ft. were on reef averaging 14-90 dwt. over a width of 14 in. The drive has now been suspended, as the company is of the opinion that they have passed through the northern extremity of the reef. No 14 Level Drive North : This drive was advanced 80 ft., of which 30 ft. exposed reef averaging 11-50 dwt. over a width of 20 in. No. 14 Level Drive South : This drive was advanced 41 ft. The southern boundary of the main ore body was reached after driving 17 ft. on reef averaging 10-70 dwt. over a width of 15 in. the balance of 24 ft. in country being driven for the purpose of stoping above. No. 15 Level Drive North : This drive was advanced 234 ft., of which 120 ft. exposed reef averaging 13-00 dwt. over a width of 32 in. No. 15 Level Drive South : This drive was advanced 224 ft., of which 190 ft. exposed reef averaging 9-82 dwt. over a width of 25 in. This 190 ft. of reef comprised 124 ft. averaging 12-40 dwt. over 27 in. and 00 ft. of unpay reef averaging 3-54 dwt. over a width of 21. in. Shaft-sinking : No shaft-sinking was carricd out during the year, but preparations are being made to sink from No. 15 to No. 10 level. Alexander and Big River Mines, Big River.- —Both mines remained idle during the year, and are not likely to resume until sufficient skilled labour is available to carry out the development neoessary to build up ore reserves. Dredge Mining Inangahua County Slab Ilut Dredge, Mawheraiti.—About half-way during the year, on account of the mechanical condition of the dredge, it was found necessary to suspend operations for two months. On completion of extensive repairs and alterations dredging was resumed, and by the end of the year 093,200 cubic yards of ground had been dredged for a gold yield that did not permit the payment of dividends. Snowy River Dredge, Ilcamatua.—This dredge worked consistently throughout the year down-streain on a wide cut taken through the centre of the valley. An average depth of 20 ft. of free-digging gravel was handled and 1,253,720 cubic yards of ground treated of a value that provided the shareholders with the customary dividends. Grey River Dredge, Ikamatua.—During the year this dredge worked 79-6 per cent, of the total digging-time of 310 working-days, equalling 5,923 digging-hours. Approximately 89 acres were dug of an average depth of 25-3 ft., and the ground treated was 3,626,313 cubic yards, the maximum output per digging-hour being 012 cubic yards. The value of the ground treated was 0-Bd. per cubic yard, and operating-costs, excluding export taxes and realization costs, amounted to 4d. per cubic yard, while the total cost of production equalled 5-14 d. per cubic yard. Shallow digging encountered during the first nine months of the year was again reflected in the volume of gravel treated. For a large portion of the year digging was carried on in the vicinity of the confluence of the Mawheraiti, Blackwater, and Snowy Rivers, which involved considerable reduced digging-time in the maintenance of waterways for the combining of the three streams. Difficulty in obtaining labour, adequate supplies, and replacement parts, together with increased material costs, greatly affected the year's operations. Grey County Waipuna Dredge, Waipuna (Ahaura Survey District). —This dredge operated intermittently during the year and dredged 358,550 cubic yards for a gold return that did not permit of the payment of dividends. The light construction of the dredge and the presence of large granite boulders in the wash accounted for a considerable amount of lost time with a subsequent reduction in yardage and increase in working-costs. The depth of ground dredged varied between 9 ft. and 28 ft., the latter depth being beyond the capacity of the dredge ladder to reach bottom. Redjacks Dredge (Associated Gold Dredges, Ltd.), Redjacks Creek, Ngahere.—During the year this dredge dredged 24 acres of ground and treated 1,037,310 cubic yards. A considerable area of the claim adjoining the GreymouthReefton Highway had to be abandoned on account of the bottom at 00 ft. being beyond the capacity of the dredge, and future dredging operations are likely to be along the bed of the Redjacks Creek until a section of shallow ground situated on the south end of the claim is reached. The average depth of ground worked was 35-7 ft. and the percentage of possible hours worked was 08 per cent. A recovery of 0-01 grains per cubic yard was effected, and total workingcost per cubic yard was 3-08 d. Atarau Dredge (Associated Gold Dredges, Ltd..), Moonlight Creek, Atarau.—Despite an acute shortage of labour, this dredge dug 49 acres averaging 18-5 ft. in depth for a yardage of 1,130,490 cubic yards. Seventy-three per cent, of possible liours were worked, and working-costs totalled 5-015 d. per cubic yard, to be expended from a return of 1 •47 grains per cubic yard. Marsden Dredge (Associated Gold Dredges, Ltd.) , New River, Marsden.—This dredgo worked 29 acres of ground and treated therefrom 1,183,552 cubic yards for a yield of 1-05 grains per cubic yard. The total cost of recovery was 3-43 d. per cubic yard, and the hours worked was 76 per cent, of the total possible time. The average depth of ground dredged was 20 ft. of free-digging gravels resting on marine bottom of blue pug. Ngahere Dredge, Ngahere.—The area dredged during the year amounted to 10 • 177 acres of a maximum depth of 95 ft. and a minimum depth of 08 ft. The maximum depth below water-level was 77 ft. and the maximum heightabove water-level 18 ft. For a recovery of 1-43 grains per cubic yard, 2,142,310 cubic yards of ground were dredged.

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