THE PETONE FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 472, 2 April 1909, Page 6

THE PETONE FATALITY.

CONCLUSION OF THE EVIDENCE. WHY THE BRACES WERE SHIFTED. Tho adjourned inquiry into tho circumstances attending, Hie death of Samuel Wilson, labourer, of Petone, who died from injuries caused by the collapse of a roof at the Gear Company's Works, Petone, on March 23, was continued at the Magistrate's Court yesterday; boforo Dr. M'Arthur, Coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr. A. Atkinson was the foreman. Mr. Wilfonl appeared for the widow of the deceased, Mr. T. F. Martin for the Gear Company, Mr. Young, hi- Mr. Samuel Brown, Mr. bray tor Mr. Duncan, Mr. F. Brown(secretary) for the Building Trades Labourers' Union, and ?,' t i A ' ■ t ' o " am l. scaffolding inspector, for the Labour Depnrtment. Sergeant Foster appeared on behalf of the police. The first witness called was John Wm Mudge, bricklayer, who was working on tho job at the time of the accident, but who onlv saw the roof falling when it was half-way down. Ho had been asked by Mr. Duncan to assist in the scaliolding work, and lie removed four of the braces so that he might be able to fix the scaffolding. One of the braces had been al ready unbolted. Witness told no ono that he had done this. Mr. Wilford: Did you seo that you were creating a fresh danger by tho removal of those braces?—No, not at tho time. Did you do it on your own initiative and without consulting anyone?— Yes. Did you know the braces were' off the north em r-No they were there at a quarter to ? !f u lf i, hn(l knora that thc were oil the north end, I should not have shifted those at tho south without consulting someone Continuing, witness stated that if the purlins had all been fastened it would have been safe enough. He took the risk of removing the south braces because ha thought that those, at tho north were right. Ho had had experience on buildings where principals, such ns were used on the building at Petone, were in use, but it was no part of his work to handle them. Ho had never attended to braces. It was impossible to do his scaffolding without lowering the braces Mr. Wilford: Why did you take the risk on yourself? Why did you not consult the man you were supposed to assist ?-I did not know there was any danger. m OU ,J cnon ' I 1 0"' that there was?— Yes. T f i l \, B °, 11 ?, n ' l: After imnniling the braces I found that there had been no movement of tho building, as the nails fitted exactly into holes from which they had been drawn. Mr. Lolland: Have you never heard of the unwritten law in the building trade that no braces or guys should ever be removed without the order of the foreman ?-No, sometimes I do it without. To Mr. Young: If tho south braces had been secure,.it would have ken quite safe to remove those at the north. h?a\M % ay: T i lo T ork lvllich Mr - Dunca " had left witness to do was enough to havo fS?m t™ 000 «R|ed till Mr. Duncan returned horn town without his having to shift the o3r l J M ? r - i ?-' - th ! who drove the evfde 8 hoisting the principals, also gave George John Wilhelm, who had been employed for five months as a carpenter at the bear Company's works, was called by Mr H ,?. l^ ted that he had worked at the building almost from the commencement under Mr. Duncan's directions. Ho assisted m placing each principal in place it was hoisted, and was reresponsiblo for Nos. l.,and 2 principals being a, little out of their proper positions. The space to be left between the principals from centre to centre was 10ft. lOJin. Ho reported to Mr. Duncan that Nos. 1 and 2 principals were not true as. soon as he discovered it. Mr. Duncan remarked that it was a pity, as it would have to bo remedied, and he wished to get a start with the bricklaying at the north end. Instead of this the work would have to be finished from the otlrsr end. Mr. Duncan gave witness no further instructions. Witness stated < that he had had a great deal of previous experience in fixing braces, etc. To Mr. Wilford: The fact that two of tho , principals were out of position would make a difference in the spacing of tho purlins. Wit- ' ness was instructed to put on tho braces, and ' he did so, but had nothing further to do with. . them. Mr. Wil.ford: Do you think the removal of ' the braces endangered Wilson's life? His Worship: That is a question for tho : jury. 1 After a little discussion, Mr. Wilford again • put the question, "Do you think the removal . af the braces increased the danger of the building collapsing?" ! Witness: Well, there was a little danger. ' To the foreman of the jury: The braces were merely temporary' work. They could be re- J moved when sufficient purlins were in position I to keep the roof secure. ] This concluded the hearing of evidence. His Worship, addressing tho jury, said: I . should like to go through the whole of this svidence, and present it to you in the form of i summing up. I suppose you would then want ;ome time to consider your verdict. I think it ] ivould be better to adjourn tho case now, as ' i is late. l One of the jurymen asked if it would not s io possible to finish straightaway, but his I [Vorship pointed out that tho evidence tondered ] md been so lengthy that he would possibly ] niss somo points if he summed up from me- , nory. The matter was a very important one; t would not do to hurry over it. Tho case was adjourned until to-morrow ' norning at 9 o'clock. j