ACCIDENTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 16

ACCIDENTS

—♦ — MAN DIES AFTER EXPLOSION

PREMATURE BLAST AT HALSWELL QUARRIES

A premature explosion occurred at the Christchurcn City Council quarries at Halswell, while lythite was being loaded into a hole, shortly before 11 o'ciock yesterday morning. John Joseph Quill, the quarry 7 foreman, was buried up to the neck in a fall of about 30 tons of rock, receiving such severe injuries that he died at 3.20 yesterday afternoon. Thomas Edwards, who was assisting Quill to prepare the charge, was struck on the thigh by flying rock, but he was not seriously injured, and after treatment at the Christchurch Public Hospital he was discharged. The accident happened when Quill and Edwards were about halfway through the task of loading a hole preparatory to shifting several tons of rock. Quill was ramming the charge into the hole with a rod, and it is thought that (he explosion was caused through Hie rod striking a rock and cruising a spark.

Quill wis standing directly above the hole when the explosion occurred, and he was buried up to his neck, receiving lacerations to his face, left arm, end right leg from the flying rock. Two men who were working near rushed to the scene, and with the help of crowbars were able to extricate him in 10 minutes. A St. John ambulance which was quickly on the scene conveyed both injured men to the Christchurch Public Hospital.

Quill, who was a widower with a grown up family, was "7 years of ace, and lived at 1 Whiteleigh avenue. He h;id been engaged at the quarries for 12 years. Edwards lives at 23 Aylmer street, Spreydon. and is a married man with several young children.

A resolution of sympathy with the relatives of Mr J. Quill was passed at a meeting last evening of the executive or (he Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Mr QuilL was formerly a deIngate from the Halswell Amateur Sports Club to the centre. LEG FRACTURED Mr A. Cameron, of Templeton, was admitted to the Christchurch PubMc Hospital early yesterday afternoon suffering from a compound fracture of a leg. Mr Cameron was working at Windwhistle felling trees, when a tree struck him. He was conveyed to hospital in the St. John Ambulance. • HAND CAUGHT IN ROLLER James Deans, of 9 Wades road, St. Martins, suffered injuries to his right hand yesterday morning, when it was caught in a roller at the Dominion Compressed Yeast Company's works. He was admitted to the Christchurch Public Hospital. CAR HITS LAMP POST At about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon an electric brougham belonging to the A. R. Harris Company was proceeding east along Page's road between Breeze's road and the tramway bridge, when a tyre burst, and, the driver losing control, the car dashed into a lamp post. No one was injured, but the top of the car was badly ripped and the car was also considerably damaged otherwise. BODY NOT RECOVERED (MlEiiS ASSOCIATION TELDGBAJI.) WANGANUI, November 15. Joseph Knowlcs, aged, 19, slipped or dived off a raft in a small lake at Marangai, five miles from Wanganui, about 7 o'clock this evening and sank immediately. His body has not yet been recovered. His parents live in Wanganui.