The deceased was injured by a fall of roof from a ripping canch, on a roadway a short distance back from the face. He died from his injuries nine days later. A shot was about to be fired in the canch, and in order to limit the fracturing effects of the shot, the deceased proceeded to set breaking off timber, and while thus engaged a stone, 7 ft. long, 2 ft. 2 ins. thick, with an average width of 3 ft. 9 ins., fell away from two slips in the canch. These had not been discerned before the accident. At the time of the accident the fireman was actually stemming the shot hole and had previously examined the roof. The shot hole had been bored on the previous shift and three or four timber props set. These unfortunately had been withdrawn before the deceased commenced to set the breaking off props, otherwise the accident might not have occurred