The Inquest.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLV, Issue 689, 8 August 1917, Page 3

The Inquest.

An inquest into tfae circumstances surrounding the death of tbe late Mr J D. Faulkner was held at the Star Hotel at 3 p.m. yesterday before Messrs 3. C. Norris (Oeputy-Coroner) and the following jury: Captain C. J. Millar. Staff-Captain Moore (S.A.), Messrs H. Perston, L. J. Grant, W. Lemon, and W. Laync. Captain Millar was chosen foreman.

Constable Sk'nner represented the police and Mr H; E. Yokes appeared for the Public Works Department. The jury adjourned to view the body .and on returning the hearing of evidence was proceeded with. Robert Henry Faulkner, son of deceased, stated that he assisted his father in running the launch Farina to the Mount- His father had been engaged in this occupation for eight or ten years. The launch left Tauranga at 9.30 a.m. that morning on the usual trip, arriving at the Railway Whaif, Mount Maunganui, about 9.55 a.m. They were going alongside the steps as uaual .when deceased called out to witness to atop tbe engine, which witness did. Witness came out of the engine room, but had his hand on the lever ready to put* her astern when called for. Then heard his father exclaim: "Look out!" On looking up witness saw the boat crash into the piles As his father fell into the seat witness caught him, and observed that his head waj terribly injured. As far as witness could see a pile of the wharf caught the forward stßnchion, broke it, and crashed his father against the next stanchion. His father was killed instantly. The boat was afterwards raada fast. They had had

trouble with the steering g«ar lately. At the time of the accident the set was quite smooth at the Railway Wharf, the wind being off shore. Before the accident the engine wai neutral, but tbe vessel had good headway on, especially as the wind and tide were with her.

To the Coronet. Two headetocks of the wharf project about a foot. Ihe way tbe; are now they are dangerous. There should bet fender pile there. If there Had been this accident could nnt have happened.

■ In reply to jurymen witness said: The projecting head&tocks were there while be has been on the boat—-about two months. Tbe Deadstocks are pointing inshore. When the accident happened tbe launch had not reached her berth.

Leon Stevens, store man at Mount Maunganui, testified that he waa on the Railway Wharf about 10 o'clock that morning wh«n the Farina came down from Tauranga. Mr Faulkner took his usual course in coining to the wharf. When within half-a-cbain of the wharf the wind seemed to carry the launch towards the pile on the main wharf. Deceased gave Ibe wheel two turns to the left. His engine at that time was running neutral. Deceased was looking out of his cabin juat previous to coming on to tbe pile. He shifted from hie position lower down and it seemed to witness as if he were trying to get oat of the way of the pile. The next thing the launch came into contact with the projections from the whirf. The launch then Btruck the pile with her belting. The first projection seemed to catch deceased and pin him and the second one crushed bis head. He then fell back and his son caught him. After the accident the launch was made fast, the rope being thrown by a man on the vessel.

'To jurymen: At the time of the accident the engine was runeing neutral. It appeared to him that the steering gear was all right, as the vessel answered when Mr Faulkner turned the wheel. Captain Faulkner was competent and always bandied the vessel well. If there bad been • fender.pile or if the projections were not there the accident could not have happened, Had seen other launches damaged by these projections. Mr Vokea: When you saw the decesaed coming ap to the wharf where was he steering from? Witness; He was steering from, bis ! usual place. Mr Vokea: Do you comider that place safe to steer from? la it not a fact that the proper pi ice to steer that

launch from is inside the cabin with the windows open Urning froni_tbe right hand side? I am just pointing this matter out as I consdier thai if the deceased had been in the cabin he would not have met with the sad accident.

Witness did not give a direct repTy. Mr Yokes: Did you notice something wrong with the steering gear? W itneas replied that it seemed to him that the vessel answered when Mr Faulkner turned the wheel. The launch cirried iiunrith the wind. ■ Mr Yokes explained that he coni sidered deceased was the most able > seafaring man in this district and has made this trip, be supposed, for the last ten years. He knew every iDch of the road and travelled it In rough weather, night and day,and had never met with any accident, and if his steering gear bad been in order this accident would have been averted.

Walter Smith, ■ settler of Otaituatua, deposed that he was on the Railway Wharf when the Farina came in that morning. Was standing in the centre of the wharf, as the launch came round. She struck on the corner of the landing at the end of the wharf. The boat, in his opinion, came into the wbarf either through the wind, tide or something putting her out of control. Witness saw the launch crash into the wharf, and looked over the side md saw that Mr Faulkner was killed. There was a steady breeze blowing at the time. Mr Yokes: How long have you known the deceased ?

Witness : Abous five years. I consider him to be a very capable seas •

faring man. Mr Yokes : Knowing the qualifications of deceased, do you consider that had the steering gear kept in order that this accident would have happened ? Witness replied to the effect that something appeared to put the vessel out of control, but he could not ofter any further opinion as he had no practical knowledge of navigation. Dr T. Stuart stated that he examined deceased that morning at 11.20 o'cluck. He found the whole of the top of his head practically smashed in. Death must have been instantaneous; He died from a compouud comniinafced fracture of the skull.

This concluded the evidence and the jury, after iuspecting the launch Farina, brought in the following verdict—That tie deceased met his death by accidentally coming into contact with a dangerous Deadstock projecting from the. railway wharf, and the jury adds a rider that steps should be taken to remove this danger.