THE WAIPA FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 135, 8 June 1914, Page 7

THE WAIPA FATALITY.

>"O ONE TO BLAMiF.

Further details regarding the fatality at the Waipa coal mine were diecloeed at the inqirest into the circumstance* connected with the death or ■Mγ. a. J Smith principaJ of the firm ot Smith and Sons, Hamilton. The de-ceased was 51 veare of aie. and leaves a family of two ions and "three da.uglrter«, two of tire hitter being married. Mr. Smith m al*o a prominent memb-r of the Baptist Church of Hamilton. Evidence .was given at the by Dt Tait. of Xgaruawahia, that death had instantaneous, and was due to a fractured and dislocated spine, as wel. as other injuriee. . Jamee Fitness, guard ot the train of the Waipa 'Railway and Collieries Company, stated that he was talking to Mr. Smith a few minutes prior to the accident. His first intimation of what had occurred was hearing a fry. On looking round he saw Mr. Smith under a wi ? on laden with coal which had' jus: come down from the screening bins. Thomas Thompson (mana-er of the minel said Mr. Smith was there on private hartineee of his own. No outsider had a right to be in the yard, and Mr. Smith was there at h : s own risk. \: was probable that the noise of the screening- machinery might have prevented Mr. Smith from hearing the truck. J. 'R. Thompson, who was nn the true*, stated he hea-rd a ory and i=aw Smith falling under the wheels. 'Witness at once npplied the brake, but the wheels had already parwd over Smith a body. Michael shunter, said the I truck was moving- at a walking pace ■when it struck deceased. A verdict of death from misadventure was returned 'by the jury, a rid-er ■bein-j added to the effect that no bhime wi= attachable to anybody.