trom the West Briton newspaper, Messrs. Ricard and Freiswald of London being stated to be the compilers, while since then, and for the statistics relating to stocks which have reference to Straits and Australian tin, I have to thank Mr. Arthur Strauss :

The following FIGURES show the position of the SUPPLIES and STOCKS of STRAITS and AUSTRALIAN TIN, &c. for each month during the years 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906 respectively.

QUANTITIES of the respective MINERALS wrought (in tons) during the YEAR 1906.

Total in 1906 .. 3,592,861 45,707 713,191 1,441,220 365,418 433,124 83,438 1,947,272 9,639 500,066 26,609 14,762 10 Total in preced- 3,559,656 47,829 681,331 1,497,626 389,972 355,202 64,415 2,392,711 10,076 382,074 26,073 14,717 ing year.

561,297 8,639
6,048
83,438 35,781

79,224 1,891
18 066

350

Lead ore
(dressed))

824,111

406,459

5,842

329,906

163,714

9,173,307

| 9,421,682

Blasting

SECTION III.

ACCIDENTS.

There have been 16 fatal accidents with 18 deaths during the year as against 15 with 15 deaths in 1905; and 122 non-fatal accidents were reported as against 174 in the preceding year.

There were two accidents in each of which two lives were lost.

One occurred in the Forest of Dean by the falling of some large pieces of rock from the side of an old portion of the quarry where a temporary blacksmith's shop was erected, and in which, while engaged at their work, two men met with injuries which eventually proved fatal through blood-poisoning, and exhaustion and diarrhea respectively.

The other occurred in a sand pit in Surrey where two men were engaged in a trench close under the face which was too upright and from which a body of sand slipped; being unable to effect a retreat from the trench they were covered over and smothered.

It will be seen by comparing the figures given in table 27, with the similar table 26 in my report for 1905, that in the year under consideration :

Under the heading of "Falls of Ground" there were two more fatal, and one less non-fatal accidents.

Under the heading of "Blasting" there were no fatal accidents, but four more non-fatal.

Under the heading of "During Ascent and Descent" there was one less non-fatal accidents.

Under the heading of "Miscellaneous" there were three more fatal and 16 less non-fatal accidents.

Under the heading of "Outside the Quarries" there were one less fatal and seven more non-fatal accidents (F. and W. Act.)

I have had a few complaints about stones being thrown outside the curtilage of the quarry when blasting, with more or less attendant danger but the most persistent and serious cases have disappeared, the energetic working of the quarries near Chepstow having ceased with the reduced requirements of the Avonmouth Dock Works.

TABLE (27).

SUMMARY of FATAL and NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS, classified according to
PLACE and CAUSE.

* Including persons injured by accidents which proved fatal to fellow workmen.

The death-rates from accidents per 1,000 persons employed were (a) outside quarries ·20; (b) inside quarries 1·55; and (c) outside and inside quarries 1·12.