FATAL ACCIDENT AT KAITANGATA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1033, 11 May 1894, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT AT KAITANGATA.

* THE INQUEST. An inquiry into the circumstances atteud- : ing the death of Archibald Crawford, who i was killed in the Kaitangata mine on the morning of Saturday last, was held at the i Athenroum at Kaitangata on Monday and | Tuesday last. Mr James W. Thomson, J.P., : acted as coroner, and the jurymen were Messrs ; George Eaynes, William Wilson, John Brown, j Thomas Shiels, Alexander Dawson, and John l Caird ; Mr Baynes was chosen foreman. Very considerable interest was taken in the proceedings, chiefly owing to the circumstance : that this is the second fatal accident that has occurred in the mine within a few weeks. Mr I Allan Holmes, of Dunedin watched the proi ceddings in the interests of the company, and j Mr Stewart, of Balclutha, in the interests of i father of the deceased. The inquest com-, menccd on Monday, but was adjourned till i the following day to enable Mr Gow, the Goj vernment inspector to be present. The chief witness was a miner M'Aughern. His evidence was to the effect that one of his sprags broke immediately after leaving the flat sheet, that he held on to the box till it came to the wheel, that then, owing to the impetus, he he had to let go, and that the box went down the incline. At this time the lad Crawford was on his way up. About the middle of the incline there is a water tap, which is for the use of the mine, but the miners in passing can get a drink there if they choose. It is supposed that the lad was at the time at the tap taking a drink and that the hissing noise of the water had so drowned the noise caused by the runaway box that it was on him before he could make any effort to escape. The verdict of the Jury was as follows : "We find by the evidence that the verdict of accidental death will have to be returned without blame being attributable to anyone, and would add the following rfder, that in the opinion of the jury a stop-block should be placed at the top of all steep inclines such as the one on which the accident happened." The room in which the inquest was held was densely crowded with anxious spectators during the whole of the proceedings.