OPEN VERDICT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 257, 31 October 1933, Page 9

OPEN VERDICT.

FATALITY AT THAMES. PRECAUTIONS IN MINE. COMMENT BY CORONER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. An open verdict was returned by the coroner, Mr. W. Bongard, at the adjourned inquest concerning the death of Athol John George Connelly (2S), married, who wae killed at the Kuranui Golden Hills claim on Thursday, October 19, as the result of falling down the cut face at the claim. The inquest was resumed at the courthouse yesterday afternoon. Mr. A1 J G. T. Bryan appeared for Connelly's dependents, and Mr. C. J. Garland for the New Zealand Insurance and Kuranui Companies. A previous witness, George Whitehead, quarryman, cross-examined by Mr. Bryan, stated that he saw deceased 100 feet up the face. The only rope on the job that day was used to secure a water pipe. Another rope was hanging at the side where they were working 60 feet above. Witness admitted that if a man slipped with mullock there was nothing to prevent him from slipping right down to the hopper bottom. The sides of the chute were very greasy at the time of the accident. Witness did not think it I was necessary on account of the flatness of the ground to insist on the use of ropes. He knew that other men had slipped down. He did not know that Connelly had previously slipped, and neither did he know that Connelly had paid a few days before "One of us will be killed up there." The company had since put ropes clown the sides, and witness considered that conditions were now safe. Lieslie Crocker Nankivell, labourer, said ho was in charge of the cock controlling the water when he saw deceased falling on mullock. He turned off th» water aXI helped to get deceased from under the mullock. Witness stated that when he started the job the foreman instructed him not to run any risks, but to use safety ropes when required. He was shown where the ropes were kept. John Francis Downey, Inspector of Mines, stated that the claim was a mine within the meaning of the Mining Act, but he thought it advieible to treat it as a quarry under the Quarries Act. Sergeant MacXamara stated that when he arrived on the scene he asked about ropes, and was told that they were not being used. The coroner said he would return an open verdict. The evidence β-howed that men were frequently working under dangerous greasy conditions. If ropes were kept by the company they appeared to have been kept in store rather than for use. Four men on occasions had fallen at different points. One witness stated that men looked upon falls as jokes, not realising the seriousness of the matter. Someone in authority must have had knowledge of the incidents, but apparently no measures were taken to prevent a recurrence. In his opinion the practice followed of the men having to enter the rill, clear the stoppage with picks and then depend on their own ability to jump clear of danger was a most dangerous procedure. It was gratifying "to know that the company had now taken measures to safeguard the men. It was regrettable that a fine young man's life should have been lost before enough common sense wae applied to give men reasonable safeguards. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his deatli by compression of the chest, causing suffocation, through being carried down the rill and buried by epoil while in the ordinary course of his duties.