ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12089, 31 October 1933, Page 2

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

.BURIED IN ATtiLLOCK. . 1 ' ;• t;;.. • ■■■■ — if. YOUNG MAN’S DEATH IN QUARRY. CORONER'S STRONG COMMENT(Press Association). THAMES. Oct. 30. An open verdict was returned by the coroner, Mr. Bongard, at the conclusion of the inquest concerning the death of Athol George John Connelly, 28, who was killed on October 19 by falling down a cut in the hillside on the Euriinui Golden Hills claim.

Medical evidence showed that death was due to suffocation through compression of the chest, the result of being buried in mullock in a hopper at the top of the mill. The evidence of workmen was to the effect that safety ropes w c rc not employed for the work of sluicing. Moving, material down the cut was very dangerous. Connelly, as was a common Practice, dug his pick into the hillside to lever himself out, hut struck a. rock and, slipped, and was carried down. He was released in about ten minutes but was dead. John Francis Downey, mining inspector stated that the claim was a mine, but be had not 'mated as fiUoU under the Alining Act because there were insufficient men to require a qualified manager.. He therefore treated it as a quarry under the Quarries Act, so as to ensure a certificated foreman. Rones were not compulsory under the Mining Act_

The coroner commented that if ropes were kept it appeared as if they were kept in the store rather tha n for use- Four men had previously fallen, hut it had been treated as a joke, and apparently no measures had been taken to prevent a recurrence. The men were inexperienced miners and quanymen, therefore the management should have considered Ihe matter. The general practice ot men entering the hill to clear a stoppage with their Picks was a most dangerous procedure. It was gratifying to know that the company had now taken safeguarding precautions, but it was regrettable that a fine young man’s life had been lost before enough common Sense had been applied for flic men’s safety. FOUND DROWNED. (Press Association). AVELLINGTON, Oct. 30Frank Eldon Grinlinton, 15, a grocer, of Brougham street, wa s found drownedi in the boat harbor at daybreak yesterday. Efforts made to resuscitate him failed. Grinlinton was a returned soldier, and was a- married man, with four children

. SUICIDE BY POISON. EX-SCHOOL TEACHER’S NERVE TROUBLE. (Press Association). DUNEDIN, Oct. 30. A verdict of suicide while depressed owing to ill-health was returned at the inquest concerning the death of Susan Rowan AJclrose, 39, a school teacher, who died en route to hospital on Saturday, after being found suffering from poison. The evidence showed that the deceased had suffered severe nervri trouble for years

Who pays the bill tor the in jured ? Consult the Standard Insurance Company for full protection.—F. A. Neill, chief agent. S. G. Northe, local manager. (Advt.).