THE INQUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 147, 22 June 1901, Page 5

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Avondale Hotel this morning by -Mr GTesham, coroner. John Frederick Atkinson was chosen foreman of the jury, and Constable Ramsay represented the police.

Henry William Rosier said he had been working with Fulton since before Christmas. On 'Thursday morning the two deceased and witness and others were engaged in making- a road round a steep hill. Witness was between Fulton and Smythe, Fulton being, on witness" left, and Smythe on his right. Parker was above the road about 2()i't up, preparing a hole for the explosive. Ernest Coulter then sang out "Look out!" and, looking up, saw the whole slip coming. Witness did not hear Parker cry out. Witness then ran to the left and got away just in time. The party were aware that the earth was liable to slip, as the previous week a slip came, down farther along the roadway. ?s To" explosives had been used that morning. By the Police: Fulton was shortsighted, and a short time previously had fallen over an embankment /on account of this defect. It was no person's duty to look out and give warning of a slip. Victor Parker deposed that the hill was composed of rubbly rock on the top of sandstone, and a slip might be expected at any moment. When above, the roadway preparing the hole for the explosive he felt the ground give way. and he immediately called out '-Look out, below!" and ran up the hill. The slip was caused by the heavy rains.

By the police: Previous to the slip a small (stream was noticed issuing from the hill.

Walter Evans deposed as to seeing Pulton knocked over the embankment. He considered that the occurence was accidental, but he thought a man should have been placed on the look-out, in view of the treacherous

nature of the country. By Mr Cotter: lie had not called Fulton's attention to the dangerous nature of the job. While witness was employed on the job no man was employed to look out Jior slips. By Mr Smythe, senr.: Smyihe had no liie line round him at the time, and there was no need for one where he was working. Ernest boulter deposed that on Wednesday, liith inst, he could see by the nature of the country that it was liable to slip. On the morning of the accident he said to Pulton, "You'll have to look out; this country here is very rotten, and there is sure to be a slip sooner or later/ Fulton said, "Yes, it is rotten." He said this to Fulton as he would have said it to any of his mates. Matthew Blair, inspector of the Nihotupu water supply works, said he had repeatedly warned Mr Fultoii to be careful on the treacherous uature of the ground on the locality of the lS To. 13 contract, and he promised to do so. This would not imply anything- in the nature of employing a look-out man. it was not usual to employ a look-out man in such work. By Mr Cotter: When he said "warned," he meant that he drew Mr Fulton's attention to the state of the counti-y. After a short deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." Mr T. Cotter was present on behalf of the City Council.