15 
There were 35 prosecutions for various offences under The Regulation of Mines rrosccutions. 
and Mining Machinery Act during last year, and convictions were obtained in 30 
cases. The names of the offenders, the nature of the offence, and the result of the 
prosecution in each case will be found in Statement No. 12. 
Particulars of the amounts paid by mining companies, during the year 1884, to compensation, 
persons injured and the relatives of persons killed through mining accidents, are given 
in Statement No. 13, and the like particulars of sums paid by the various branches 
of the Amalgamated Miners’ Association to its members will be found in Statement 
No. 14. From the latter it appears that, on the 31st December last, the association 
had a total of 8,113 benefit members on its books ; that 1,239 claims were made on its 
funds for death and accident allowances; and that a sum of £5,463 10s. lOd. was 
distributed amongst the injured members and the relatives of members killed. This 
association is doing good work, and deserves the cordial support of every person 
engaged in or connected with mining pursuits. 
During last year no less than 1,831 separate mines were visited by the Mine 
• , . _ •1*1 • inspections. 
inspectors of mines, and 2,319 inspections made, some of the mines haying been visited 
several times during the year. Statement No. 15 shows the number of visits made by 
each inspector, the number of accidents, and the number of men killed and injured in 
the mines under their supervision. 
The appendices attached to this Report are :— A synopsis of The Regulation of Appendices. 
Mines and Mining Machinery Act ; regulations for the issue of certificates to engine- 
drivers ; rules adopted at some of the principal mines in Victoria; report of the Boai’d 
of Examiners for Engine-drivers; list of certificated engine-drivers; report of the 
Inspector of Explosives, Victoria; list of licensed manufacturers of explosives; 
suggestions for the prevention of accidents through the use of nitro-glycerine 
compounds; regulations relating to the importation of explosive substances; regula¬ 
tions relating to the manufacture of explosives; report of the Chief Inspector of 
Explosives, England; list of patents for improved mining appliances granted in 
Victoria during 1884; suggestions for the amendment of The Regulation and 
Inspection of Mines Act. 
For the eleven years dui'ing which a record of mining accidents has been kept by ctrospect. 
the Mining Department — namely, the years 1874 to 1884 inclusive—the total number 
of persons killed by such accidents was 673, or an average of 61 per annum. The 
number killed in the first-mentioned year was 90, and in the last-mentioned 41. Of 
these 673 fatalities, no less than 356, or nearly 53 per cent, of the whole, were from 
falls of earth or rock underground and on the surface. During the period mentioned 
112 men lost their lives through falling down shafts and winzes; 43 through cage 
accidents; 40 through explosions of various blasting compounds; 38 through falls of 
material down shafts, &c.; 17 through machinery in lxxotion; 6 through foul air; and 
4 through truck accidents; whilst during the whole period of eleven years only one 
fatality occurred through fire-damp, and one through boiler explosion. 
Every effoi*t has been made by this Department to administer the admirable Administration 
• • n mi 7-i7* of the Statute. 
provisions of 1 he Regulation and Inspection of Mines Act , so as to secure, as far as 
legislation can secui'e, the safety and well-being of the men engaged in the hazardous 
occupation of mining; but, as has been frequently pointed out in previous annual 
Reports, the miner’s safety is pi’actically in his own keeping. If he disregards the 
