C—2

On 7th May Jack McManus, miner, Harrison and party's colliery, sustained a compound fracture of left leg and injuries to right forearm, chest, and face when he was struck by a rake of trucks caused by the breakage of rope. On 14th May W. B. Hands, trucker, Millerton Colliery, slipped in a drain and sustained a fracture of the right patella. On 15th May Eric Wick, bins worker, Dobson Colliery, was opening a door on a railway wagon and the door fell on his toe, causing a fracture. On 15th July Thomas Pollock, miner, Millerton Colliery, received a fracture of both bones just above the right ankle. The workmen's inspectors reported that they were of tjie opinion that Pollock slipped on a greasy part of the floor when trying to avoid a falling prop, which bounced off a piece of timber lying on the floor on to his ankle. On 22nd July J. H. Phillips, winch-driver, Wallsend Colliery, received a compound fracture and dislocation of the right index finger when he was applying a small amount of grease to the clutch drum with his finger, when his finger got caught under the clutch band. On 18th September A. Mclnness, miner, Wallsend Colliery, while working at the coal face, struck his right thumb against the side of a box, sustaining a fracture. On 25th September Harold Browning, miner, Wallsend Colliery, suffered contusions to the big toe of his left foot when he was struck by a piece of coal. After an x-ray it was revealed that he suffered a fracture of the big toe. On 26th September Steve Gugum, miner, Dobson Colliery, suffered a squashed ring-finger of the right hand when he was placing a prop in position. It was later ascertained that this injury resulted in a fracture of the tips of the ring-finger and the mid-finger. On 9th October James Beirne, shiftman, Wallsend Colliery, was struck by a piece of side coal and his injuries at the time were described as " contusions lumbar spine and right lumbar region." Beirne was admitted to the Grey River Hospital and a series of x-ray examinations were carried out, from which it was ascertained that he suffered a fracture of the spine. On 14th October C. G. McGregor, miner, Moody Creek Colliery, was struck in the eye by a splinter •of coal, causing serious eye injury. On 16th October David Allen, miner, Wallsend Colliery, was struck by a fall of coal and suffered a fracture of right scapula. On 21st October A. E. Eklund, mine-manager, Banks and party's colliery, suffered a broken clavicle when covered by fall of overburden which was caused through snow melting and water filling in a crack a few feet from the face. On 21st October Colin Watson, winch-driver, Dobson Colliery, received a compound fracture of the first joint of his thumb when he was endeavouring to replace the rope on a winch-drum. On 21st October W. Fraser, miner, Liverpool Colliery, received a fractured left fibula through being struck by a piece of coal bursting from the face. On 22nd October George Young, contract worker, Dobson Colliery, whilst employed enlarging the return airway fell while working in the airway and suffered a fracture of the left radius. On 4th November W. Boyle, trucker, Stuart and party's colliery, was tipping coal into the bins when his foot became jammed between two trucks and he suffered a fracture of a small bone in his right ankle. On 29th November B. Anderson, trucker, Denniston Colliery, sustained a compound fracture of right elbow when caught in jig rope. On 2nd December Alan McPhie, fitter, Dobson Colliery, was operating a portable grinding-machine when the stone burst and struck him on the jaw, causing a fracture. On 9th December E. T. Cummings, fireman, Stockton Colliery, while returning to his home at the conclusion of his dog-watch shift riding a motor-cycle, collided on the Granity bridge with a motor-car at 9.30 a.m., and as a result suffered a fracture of the head of the right femur. Dangerous Occurrences in Coal-mines (Regulation 81, Coal-mines Regulations 1939) Liverpool Colliery, Rewanui. —On 7th January a heating was discovered in the level to the west at the bottom of Anderson Dip Section. This heating was sealed off with temporary stoppings. Further inspection revealed that leakage was taking place and the atmosphere on the outbye side of the stoppings was being fouled. Erection of permanent stoppings was then carried on continuously until the area was satisfactorily sealed off. The mine recommenced production on 10th January, 1946. Kleen Mine, Reefton. —On 12th January a heating was suspected and the area sealed off -with temporary stoppings. Leakage, however, resulted in several men being affected by CO whilst •erecting the permanent stoppings. The men were withdrawn. The permanent stoppings were completed with the aid of rescue apparatus and the area effectively sealed off on 18th January.

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