THE WAIPU FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 4

THE WAIPU FATALITY.

iifi?-!ia^t>fioX£3tfeaiSQfcEST.

, : An vinjiuest was. SeW on Tuesday .to inquire .into the cause of the death' of •Mr/ jStiiitein X. bell acted as coroner.

Evidence went to enow that deceased and several others were threshing "brown.; top" at • Mr; riW. A. McKays farm on" the Bth-inst.,~ aiid'that during a spell, whilst a breakage in the machinery was being repaired a fire was notice to start outside the barn on the windward side." An alarm was given, and attention -was immediately turned to put out the fire, bat, with *a strong westerly wind blowing, the flames had' traversed to the threshing floor and gone through the barn. Deceased and Mr../A. D. McKay were etowing the I threshed ' hay on a scaffold or loft) above the threshing ffcwr. Mr. McKay said they, had-'heard the ciy of fire, but gave it little attention, thinking it'was not close at hand, but a minute or so afterwards they noticed smoke going' through the barn. ' Deceased said "We had better go down and see what we can do, and proceeded to do so. When Mr. A. D.' McKay was halfwaydown . the ladder he was: caught by the flames, and, turning round, noticed decaieed; following him to the ladder.' That was the last that'was seen of the deceased alive. Mr. A. D. McKay had to rush out of the barn through the flames,- and received slight r "burns.. Immediately it was seen that nothing could be done to rescue deceased. Constable Kerr was informed, and in a very short time was on the scene. After a couple of hours he and others succeeded in securing the body, which was much, burnt.

The jury found "that the deceased was accidentally burnt to.death in Mr. W: A. McKay's barn, and that no blame was attached to anyone, and no evidence to show how the fire originated." They aUo added a recommendation ''that all persons engaged in such work is threshing straw of any kind in barns Should exercise special care with, regard to fire." , i .

'Mr. W. A. McKay sustained heavy loss by fhe' fire, ac the destruction of the barn, seed, chaff, sheaves, cart, t> n ß=yj implements, etc., meant about £800,. whereas there was only as insurance of £50.