INQUEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2551, 27 August 1915, Page 8

INQUEST

——-4 .. ■ MB. THOMAS WOOD'S DEATH; 1 An inquest was conducted by Mr. D.i G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday afternoon, into the circumstances touching . the'death of Mr. Thomas Wood, whowas killed by falling down the hold of the s.s. Waimate on Monday last. Mr. H. E. Evans appeared for the owners of- the vessel, the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Mr. 0. C. Mazeiigarb represented t-ho relatives of de< ceased ' i Archibald _ Walker, surveyor foi Lloyd's Register, who' was with d©» ceased at tho time of the accident-, pave evidence. He stated that he met Mr. Wood at the gangway of the Wai-. mate about 11.30 a.m. on Mondav, and together thoy proceeded on board ajid down into No. 1 hold, where they arranged for some repairs, which wore to be effected. Instead of returning to deck through No. 1 hatch deceased and he went through' to No. 3 hold; which necessitated their scraniblint; over some cargo. The light was bad.Deceased, who was in the lead, warned witness to be careful, and a few moments afterwards -witness head-a'shaf-fle and a thud. The hatches of No. 2 : hold were off and deceased had fallen! down to the bottom of the hold, a distance of about 11 or 12 feet. • Witness • called down the hold, but on hearing no response ■he immediately informed the chief , officer and some, men on th«i deck, and communicated with the doctor. Witness did not actually , soo tlia accident. Mr. Walker stated that the( hatches were frequently left off to fa-v cilitate working. Cargo was bouis worked in.Nos. l and 3 holds, but nob in No. 2. Deceased had had many years' experience of ships. Doctors Faulke -and Gilmer, who examined deceased immediately after the accident, stated that dcceased's skull was badly fractured and thai death must -'have been instantaneous. After hearing further evidenca thi Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to fracture of the skull caused by falling down No. 2 hold of the s.Bt Waimate on August 23. t