DEATH IN SHINGLE PIT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 8

DEATH IN SHINGLE PIT

MAN BURIED IN EARTH INQUEST IN WAIROA (Herald Correspondent.) On July 15, Joseph Patrick Bvpsiialian. aged 42, married, was killed by a fall of shingle while working in ,a metal pit near Tuai. Yesterday, in Wairoa, before the coroner, Mr. V. E. Winter, J.P., an inquest was bejd. After hearing fairly long evidence, .the coroner returned.,a .verdict that .death, which ; w,af .instantaneous, was.caused by Brosnahan being buried by a fall bt, earth and metal. ; Sergeant L. T. .Rjbo,re,.;poncfucted the proceedings for the.police, Mr...p, : V. Chamberlain appeared .for Br.osnahan’s employer,. G. Beale,,and Mr. G. deV. Robinson for the relatives. Edith Laura Francis, district nurse, said that she was called to tfie scene of the accident and. fquiid . that Brosnahan’s left; leg was broken and his head was badly crushed. Pakeha Cairns, of Kuba pa,,Tuai, employed by Geoffrey. .Beale in the quarry, said . that : Broshahan had done some, blasting, with gelignite and an overhang, was left at ther fop. They had a smbke-ph,, and on returning to the. job. Brosnahan- started to screen some metal. Suddenly ,there was a fall of metal and ..Brosnahan was buried by earth, stonps, and gravel. The men got him but, but he was dead. In his opinion Brosnahan had been working in. a dangerous place. He took too many risks, declared witness. To Mr,. Chamberlain: ~ Brosnahan was,in charge of the gang and could do what he liked. Evidence was given also by Windy Tahu, who said that Brosnahan was working right under the overhang. He (witness) would not have worked where Brosnahan was, as it was too dangerous. Peter Henry said that the face of the pit was dangerous after the shots were fired. He saw the face begin to fall and called out,. “Look out, Joe!” Brosnahan jumped, but the metal struck him. To Mr. Chamberlain: Brosnahan yras looked upon as an experienced man. However, he took too many risks. Beale said in evidence that he was supplying surface metal for the, main highway between the Waikaremoana outlet and Ohuka road. On the day of the accident he visited the pit in the morning and again at, ? p.m. Brosnalian had been at that type of work all his life and was in charge of the pit. When he saw,the pit at 2 p.in. it was perfectly safe. To the coroner: When he employed Brosnahan to take charge of the,pit he had every confidence that he was a competent man. He did not give the men any instructions, but occasionally conferred with Brosnahan.