C—2

Lode mines face an uncertain future on account of scarcity of labour and different conditions prevailing to-day when compared with those existing when the mines shut down during the war years. Fatal Accidents Nil. Serious Non-fatal Accident Dredges On 23rd April, 1947, J. Mills, employee, Arahura Dredge, suffered a serious injury to his left eye. Whale changing buckets a piece of steel was dislodged from a pin and struck him in the eye. On 16th May, 1947, Bernard Crowley, oiler, Rimu Dredge, was thrown from his bicycle when travelling to work on night shift and suffered a fracture to the base of his skull. On 28th July, 1947, Archibald Millar, welder, Rimu Dredge, suffered a fractured skull. He was using an oxy-acetylene torch to cut a broken winch shaft to facilitate removal. On completion of the second cut between two pulleys, one pulley suspended by a wire rope moved slightly when slack was taken up. Millar, in an effort to avoid the moving wheels, moved sideways and struck his head against the stationary pulley, and was severely injured. Metalliferous Mines On 18th July, 1947, W. Prendergast, miner, Blackwater Mine, suffered a compound fracture of right forearm and lacerations when struck by a cage bar. This bar had been dropped by a braceman down the shaft, and struck Prendergast, who was standing in the chamber in No. 15 Level. Owing to the intense cold, the braceman lost his grip on the bar, which he had ready to fix to the cage. The dropping of the bar was purely accidental. On 25th August, 1947, R. Robertson, miner, Blackwater Mine, was injured whilst loading a trolley with logs from a stack in No. 15 Level chamber. A log fell from the top of the stack and struck the miner across the right forearm. An x-ray examination disclosed a fracture of the ulna (right arm). Prosecutions under the Mining Act, 1926 Nil. SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (T. McMillan, Inspector oe Mines) Quartz and Alluvial Mining Waitaki County Sluicing operations have been carried out in the auriferous gravels of the Livingstone and Maerewhenua Goldfields. Waihemo County The Callery Syndicate continued mining and development operations at their Round Hill Quartz - mine, and treatment operations were carried out at the Deep Dell Battery, where 1,050 tons of ore was treated. In December, operations at the Round Hill Mine were temporarily suspended on account of rising costs, and scheelite-mining operations commenced on the western side of the Deep Dell Creek near the old Golden Point Mine. Maniototo County The alluvial mines at Naseby, Kyeburn, Cambrians, and Patearoa have been operated steadily when water has been available. Tuapeka County Mining operations have been continued steadily by the tribute party at the Sailor's Gully Alluvial Mine, Waitahuna Gully. Intermittent sluicing operations have been carried on in the old Holy Cross Mine, on the north bank of the Tuapeka River three miles upstream from Tuapeka Mouth. Southland County Sluicing operations have been carried out in the Waikaia auriferous areas at Happy Valley, Chinaman's Gully, Winding Creek, and Piano Flat.

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