THE PAROA FATALITY

Grey River Argus, 2 July 1914, Page 6

THE PAROA FATALITY

INQUEST PKOCEEDINGS

An inquest was commenced lit the Greymouth Courthouse yesterday morning before J. G. L. Hewitt, Esq.. District Coroner, touching the dosith of Peter Ewavt, the victim of the Paror. accident. Sergeant Egun conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police, Mr. .J. Han nan' appeared on behalf of the South British Insurance Company, and Mr. F. D. Sargent on behalf of Messrs Stratford, Blair, and Company and the mill contractor, Mr. H. J. Hopgood. The Coroner said that in view of the relatives not beiug represented he would. take, formal evidence only. Henry James Hopgood, contractor, residing tit Paroa, said, he had a contract from Stratford, Blair, and Co,, and had charge of the mill, being paid jit the rate of so much per 100 ft. of limiici cut, subject to orders received oi on agreed upon price, was responsible for the upkeep of the machinery, and executed repairs. The deceased was employed by witness as brakesman on the trucks, having full charge of the loading of logs and bringing them to the mill, a work he had. been engaged at for the last three years, and was an experienced hand. The bushmen and sniggers brought the logs to Ihrj loading bank. Yesterday afterir>on, at about 2.45 p.m., the deceased witness, and W. Williams had loaded thf. trucks and started the load down l!".! hill. There was a winch and two brakes with which to lower the trucks — there were three trucks, the last of which was attached by a wire' rope to the winch. The rope was gradually slacked as the rucks went. down. The deceased was on the middle truck and witness was on the last truck. The trucks were going down steadily; everything was going well, when the deceased put down his. brake and stopped the rake dead; he then eased the brake off quickly with the result that the trucks went away with a ,i cr k- This bpoke the coupling between the last trucks and pulled the front bogey from \ under the last load. Witness called out, "Look out, Peter, let her go." The' deceased was then walking on the planks along the side of the tramway, applying his brake; the trucks at that time were not moving at more than a 'walking pace. What witness intended the deceased to do when he called out was to let the trucks go down the hill and look after himself. The deceased hung to the lever, and was carried down with the trucks from 12 to 15 chains. Witness could see the deceased hanging to the lever and did not think deceased was caught by the trucks as he was able to use his feet, but afterwards was bumped down the hill. Witness went to the foot of the hill and found deceased lying by the side of the tramline with his head towrads the hill; his head was crushed in and he was quite dead. The trucks were off the line about a chain further on. At this stage of the proceedings the Coroner said he would get the local Inspector of Factories to go out and inspect the locality. Mr. Hanuan annouueecj that he had just been informed that the relatives of the deceased desired to be represented at the iuquest, and the proceedings were adjourned till Tuesday next, the Coroner stating that he would give a certificate for burial in the interim.