WHARF LABOURER'S DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 253, 18 July 1908, Page 14

WHARF LABOURER'S DEATH.

CORONER'S INQUEST. An inquiry, into circumstances connected with the death of Patrick Finlay, wharf labourer, who died at Wellington Hospital on Thursday,, from the results of injuries, sustained.while working ciri the wharf . on April. 181 last, was conducted by Mr. Wi' G. Riddell,-. S.M., at ' rthe Hospital yesterday afternoon.':" Mr.'' Weston' appeared ' for the' Harbour' Board,' and Sergeant Ljon for" the police, .while Mr. ,D. M'Laren watched the case for the Wharf Labourers'- Union. , ' Dr. Eivart^ .Medical ..Superintendent at ■ the Wellington • gave evidence, that ceased was admitted to the Hospital'on April •18' lasti suffering. from'. concussion -.of : the spine,, with of part'of the body supervened, and no improvement, took; place.'' A consultation of the: surgical staffiwas held,.arid it was,decided that nothing was to be gained ' by. performing an ;operatioh'; deceased's'condition graduallygrew worse, death occurring";on Thursday morning last. In-his ..'death was "due -to ex-' baustion, following upon injuries to the spine. ' Evidence given ■ by- deceased's fellow-work-ers,- showed that' the men were engaged in "breaking-down" a stack of flax, when the "mass unaccountably;: ''way'.' There wero .about thirty bales ( in a stack, and the usual procoduiej-wh'ln'tho'buildiiig.up and breakIn break-, ing'.'dowri: a'•:stack'rof. flas' bales, it was usual to pul lout an;outer bale;on the second tier; the meth'od adopted in building the stack being such that tho extraction of a bale could be performed without 'danger. In was surmised that ono of the-bales must have been "soft," thus' disturbing tho equilibrium of tho stack. .. . . . .The jury returned ._a verdict to the effect that-deceased;was injured by tho accidental collapse of.a stack of flax bales, and'that death resulted -from ; causes stated in the medical evidence; There was no blame attachable ■to anyone...