THE TALISMAN FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1913, Page 7

THE TALISMAN FATALITY.

,' ; " - CORONER'S INQUEST. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ! WAIHI, this day. » The adjourned inquest regarding the • deaths of Wm. Hyde and Tho*>. Mcßride ■ which occurred in the Talisman mine on ' March 28, was continued yesterday after- ; noon. Further examined, John ,Tait (engineer) said he was responsible for the effici_cy of the machinery at No. S shaft. He had examined the hauling ropes on the day of the accident, and saw nothing | wrong. He was satisfied that the rope was safe. The rope was put on new in ' January of last year, and had not been ; tested then- or since. He could swear that the defects now showing were not ' previously visible His examination would have discovered defects had they been in their present form. To Mr Morgan (Miners' Union) : He . frequently rode up and down on the skip. ' No complaint had been made to him by ( drivers as to the Condition of the rope. I To Mr Moresby (representing -the . relatives of the deceased) : The company , took no precautions to ascertain whether there were any defects in the new rope. They relied on the guarantee of the makers. Witness took the responsibility for not lubricating the rope. To Mr Paul. (Mining Inspector) : He had not been instructed to have the rope tested. Mr Paul here. quoted the Act, stipulating that ropes carrying men must bo tested at the time of being put into commission, and periodically tested tbereafter, ~. ~ Charles Wilson (cnginedriver), .in answer to Mr Moresby, said that during ' a conversation between Beckett (skipman) and the mine manager witness I heard tho former say that they were breaking the-Mining Act every day. The manager said that the company was taking the, responsibility for certain men ■ using the skip. This conversation took place a day or two before the accident. On the application of counsel, tbe in- ' quest was adjourned till Monday. The! Coroner intimated that he would not agree to a further adjournment after Monday. • .