WAS FAULTY JACK USED?

Grey River Argus, 29 July 1925, Page 6

WAS FAULTY JACK USED?

DEATH CE AUGUSTUS QUINN. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. An inquest was held nt Ikamatua. yesterdav concerning the death ol Au-j gustus Quinn, who met his death nt | Hukarere the previous d-'v. The inouirv w"s held be! orc Air A. Doig, Acting Coroner, end a jury of four—l Messrs C. Okcv, J. T. Clavton. G. Mit-; .hell and J. L. Aff-T.ennan. Mr Clay-' to - 1 was foreman. I Inspector ‘Eccles conrhiHed the in-| ouirv on behalf of the police, and Atrl F. T . Tnrlev watched nroceedinns on. behalf of the West Const Timber Workers’ Union. Samuel Quinn, brother of deceased, gni’O evidence of identification. J. C. A. Wilson, bush foreman, at Hukarcre sawmill, said deeensefl was n tramway foreman. His duties were to maintain the existing tramways, and help the loco men if thov were in trouble. At the time of the accident deceased was lifting logs on to 1 he truck, assisted by four other mom Five .'picks v-ere being cmploved. The men had to jack the logs up Io nbonl three feet six'inches. Fur jacks wore in good order. The condition of the jack that caused the accident was due to it crumbling up under the weight of the logs. The jack, which is now in a bent condition, was a now one. There must have been some defect in the material of the spear of the jack. The logs came of?, through the front load leaving the line, aid the twitch chain on the other truck breaking. One log was replaced safely, and the men were proceeding with flic second log, while the third log was Iving on the ground. The second log was lifted on to the bolster. havi ig a bearing of eight inches on the bolster. He understood there were two jacks holding the log. when the jack in question collapsed. Deceased was bending over the outside log preparing a foothold when the jack collapsed, pinni.ig his head between the second and third log. All the men were experienced at that class of work. The system used was the same . ns that used under similar conditions. Sometimes a rope was used if conditions permitted. To Mr Turley: He was not there nt the time, but had the accident des- . .-ribed to him. Ho had seen jacks eollapse before. He had never seen one - of Price’s jacks collapse in that man- ’ ner, but had not used them much. He I did not like Price's jacks for that par- , ticular class of work.

To Air D. Tennent: Price’s jacks were never used at Ilukarere or Orwell Creek. The foothold deceased was preparing was for the jack.

A Palmer, loco driver at Ilukarere mill, said that on Saturday last he was bringing in a rake of logs when a truck came off. He left the log’s till the Alonday. Referring to the accident, witness said three logs came off a truck, and he assisted in putting them back. Five jacks were being used, although it was customary to use only three. Deceased had just taken his jack out of the log. owing to it (the jack) collapsing and was prepari ino- to get a fresh hold. Witness noticed the log move, and called out, but it was too late. The other three men were in their places looking after thenjacks. Witness expressed the opinion that the cause of the jack collapsing was the soft material in it. To Air Tnrlev: \ Price jack enuhl not be used as -well as a frevalla ,;nek. None of the five jacks were used nofore the accident. The line h.ml nothing to do with the trucks coming off. It was in good order. William Dowie, an employee at the sawmill, corroborated the evidence ol the two previous witnesses, adding that tlie bolster and log were greasy. The jack he worked with was in good order. The system was the same in other mills in which he had worked. To Mr Turley: Price’s jacks were superior for big timber. AVlth small timbe Trevalla jacks 'were the best. He agreed with the last witness in regard to the use of the Price jack. To Air Tennent: All the men working the jacks were experts. Evidence was also given by Constable Gurden.

A verdict of “accidental death,” no blame being attachable to anyone, was returned.