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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT

APPENDIX A

REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND QUARRIES

The Inspecting Engineer of Mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines Sir, — Wellington, 15th May, 1946. I have the honour to present my report on metalliferous mines and quarries for the year ended 31st December, 1945.

ACCIDENTS In 1945 two fatal and three serious non-fatal accidents occurred in or about metalliferous mines, at which 1,304 persons were ordinarily employed.

Of the fatalities, one man was killed by a fall of earth whilst prospecting at Glenorchy, and the other was killed by a falling wheel in the Martha Mine, Waihi. . Of the serious non-fatal accidents, one man was injured whilst blasting ore in the Maytha Mine, one lost an eye from an electrical mishap on the Arahura Dredge, and one was injured by a mooring rope at the Waipuna Dredge. GOLD-MINING Production of gold showed a general decline in all branches. The Blackwater and Martha Mines continue to be the only substantial producers in the quartz-mining field, and the production from alluvial mining has shrunk to an almost negligible figure. ; The number of dredges in operation for the year was seventeen, and these were responsible for over half of the total gold-production. Since the end of the year the Barrytown, Gillespie's Beach, and Waipuna Dredges have ceased operations.

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Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Cause. Number of Separate Accidents. Number of Deaths. Number of Separate Accidents. Number of Persons injured. Falls of ground Explosives Miscellaneous, on surface Miscellaneous, underground 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 Totals 2 2 3 3