NOT FULLY USED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 12

NOT FULLY USED.

MtfiEßS' SAFETY APPARATUS.

MILLERTON INQUEST

RESUMED.

VERDICT DEFERRED,

(L>v Telegraph—Press Association.)

WESTPORT, Tuesday.

An inquest concerning the deaths of William Maher. William Pearson, James Cowan and Michael Ford, mine deputy, mine manager deputy, and underviewers respectively, in the Millerton mine on February 5, was resumed this afternoon before Mr. W. Meldrum, coroner.

The evidence showed that Pearson and Duffy, wearing special apparatus, made a very complete inspection of the mine and were highly pleased with its condition, a fire which had been raging for the past six or seven months not having damaged the mine to the extent anticipated. Two mine deputies, Ford and Maher, requested leave to make an inspection and were allowed half an hour to do it. They were given special machines and instructed to connect them before entering the danger zone. As they did not return in half an hour another deputy went to look for them. He saw their lights burning and believed they were returning to the mouth of the dij). They were given a further ten minutes. As they had not then returned, the party became anxious and Duffy went in and recovered Maher's body. It was found that apparently the apparatus had not been fully in use.

.Smith and Cowan next went in search of Ford. Cowan returned and took off liis apparatus. Smith, in the meantime, had found Ford's bod}-. When returning Cowan collapsed at Smith's feet, deranging the machine used by Smith, who then endeavoured to drag out Cowan, but he collapsed and crawled out on his knees. He was also assisted by Duffv.

Pearson then put on the apparatus and went in in search of Cowan and Ford, and did not return. Later the bodies of Pearson, Cowan and Ford were recovered in that order by Deputies Brownlie and Pfeffer. Evidence made it appear as if Ford had not fully used his machine, and that the oxygen in Pearson's machine had not been turned on.

Evidence given by two experts as to the condition of the three machines used by Pearson. Maher and Ford was that they were in perfectly good order and condition.

The coroner stated that he would take time to go through the evidence and would give his verdict on Fridav morn-