AN EARTH FALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 807, 3 May 1910, Page 7

AN EARTH FALL.

A MAN INJURED AT THE MIRAMAR CUTTING. TWO OTHERS NARROWLY ESCAPE. About 9 a.m. yesterday a big fall of earth occurred unexpectedly at tho Miramar cutting, which is being widened out by Mr. C. F. Pulley aad Co., in tho terms of his contract with tho Wellington Harbour Board. Thrto men, Albert Porter, Anderson, and Colo, who were working below, narrowly escaped with their lives; Porter (of 21 Normanby Torrace) sustained concussion of the brain and some internal injuries which necessitated his removal to the Wellington Hospital.

The contract on which the men were engaged consists ol" lowering the level' of the • floor" of tho cutting, as well as widening it out to 66ft. A trench had been cut to the new level about half-way through the cutting to admit a number ot trucks, which aro filled from shoots irom tho bank on the south side. Tho men mentioned were working in the truck trench, when a warning was shouted irom, above that the ground above was opening out as the result of .a "shot" fared the first, thing yesterday morning; but before tho men - below scrambled irom. the trench up to the old level of the road, a section of earth—mostly rotten rock—crashed down into the trench. When alarmed of their perilous position, the men had rushed towards the JWans Bay entrance of the cutting, but Porter was caught by the heavy weight pt earth and pmned by some timber, and in that position he was struck severely on the head and considerably bruised and knocked about- The others found sanctuary in a corner which gavo them a certain measure of protection, and prevented serious injury. Their'a was a most providential escape. Drs. Anderson and Kemp were soon on the scone, and administered medical aid to Porter, who -was removed as soon as possible to the hospital. About 1000 tons of earth, it is estimated, have come down in the fall, and until it is cleared out of tho trench to allow the trucks free play a number of hands will most probably be dispensed with. The earth which is being dislodged from the south side of tho cutting is being used for reclamation purposes in Evans Bay immediately to tho south of the Miramar Wharf. Upon inquiry at the hospital lato last night it was stated that there was no change in Porter's condition.