MINER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 15

MINER'S DEATH

AN OPEN VERDICT

REMARKS BY CORONER

| (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) THAMES, October 30. An open verdict was returned by the Coroner, Mr. Bongard, at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Athol George John Connelly, aged 28, who was killed on October 19 through falling down a cut in the hillside of the Kuranui-Golden Hills claim. Medical evidence was that death was due to suffocation through compression of the chest as the result of being buried in mullock in the hopper-top of the mill. . , The evidence of workmen was to the effect that safety ropes were not employed. The work of sluicing moving .material down the cut was very dangerous. Connelly, as was the common practice, dug a pick into the hillside to lever himself out, but struck a rock and slipped, and was carried down. He was released in about ten minutes, ibut was dead. John Francis Downey, mining inspector, stated that the, claim was a mine, but he had not treated it as such under the Mining Act because there were insufficient men to require 3 qualified manager.' He tnerefore: treated it as A quarry under the Quarries Act, to j ensure a Certificated foreman. Ropes were not, compulsory under the Mining Act: •■■'..'..'■ : The Coroner commented that if ropes i were kept it appeared they were kept in..'store-rather than in use..- Four men had previously fallen. '< Apparently no measures had been taken to prevent a recurrence. The men were inexperienced miners arid quarry'men, therefore the management should have'eonsidered the matter. ,The geperal practice of men entering a hill to clear a stoppage with picks was a most dangerous procedure, and it was gratifying to know | that the^ company had now taken safeguarding precautions. It was regrettable that a fine young man had lost his- life before enough common sense was applied- for the men's safety.