DOBSON FATALITY

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1942, Page 8

DOBSON FATALITY

INQUEST AT GREYMOUTH A verdict that Robert Lindsay Rowe died as a result of a compound depressed fracture of the skull rece.ved when a tree suddenly broke and fell on him, while he was following his usual occupation in the bush, was returned by the District Coroner, Mr M. J'. Fogarty, J.P., .at the inquest into the death of a snigger, Rowse, who was killed in a recent accident in the bush of Stratford, BLair and Company's sawmill at Dobson, on February 13. Senior Sergeant G. F. Bonisch conducted proceedings for the police, Mr F. A Ritchingham represented the employers and Mr W. D. Taylor appeared for the relations of deceased, who was a single man, aged 21 years. Dr N. F. Greenslade, Grey River Hospital, said he examined the body of deceased on February 13. It showed an extensive compound depressed fra'cture of the left side of the skull. There was evidence of bleeding from the nose and left ear. Several ribs on both sides and both bones of the lower right leg were fracture. Death had occurred some hours previously, and, in witness’s opinin would be instantaneous, the cause being due to the injuries previously mentioned.

James Smith, winch driver, Stratford and Blair’s mill at Dobson, ie-s-ding at Paroa. stated that, while working in the bush at the Dobson mill about 9.45 a.nrnon February 12, two logs rolled off the loading bank down on to the tramline. The chock underneath the logs broke and let them away. Deceased was working with witness. Witness decided that the job of putting the logs back on the loading bank was too much for two men and lie blew the whistle tor the leading bushman, Charlie Wilson. Wilson came out of the bush and they proceeded to lift the logs. While lifting the second log- up, the lead tree on to which the block was attached broke. Wilson and deceased were standing on the bank north of the tree.' When the tree broke witness shouted “Look out!” Wilson jumped clear. Deceased jumped off the bank in the direction that the tree was falling. When the tree hit the ground, about the top 16 feet broke off and deceased was struck on the back of the head by this part of the tree, being pinned underneath it. They had to lift the tree to free deceased, who was dead. The lead tree was the name given to a tree that had a block attached to it to control the main hauling rope on the drum of the winch. The lead tree was always situated out in front of the winch. In this case, the lead tree was a perfect tree, a growing tree over two feet in diameter, and had been used on several occasions. It broke about two feet from the ground and - about seven feet below the block. This was a thing witness had never seen before in 25 years’ experience. By where the- lead tree broke there was a scarf, on the opposide side to which the lead tree fell, about two inches deep : and not a foot long. This would not be detrimental to the strength of the lead tree.

To Mr Taylor: The tree did not break at the scarf, which was where the rope had sawn into the tree. The scarf had nothing to do with the breaking of the tree. Witness did not know the scarf was on the tree until after the accident.

To Mr Kitchingham: The scarf was above where the tree broke off. Witness could not say that the scarf, which had probably been there for about three weeks, had any influence on the life of the tree.

Charles Stanley Wilson, bushman, residing at Cobden, corroborated the evidence of Smith as to his being called to assist in the lifting of the logs. They decided to pull the second log on the tram track back to the lead block, and then on to the bank behind the first log. They put the rope about ten feet down the log and pulled the log back about 30 feet. They intended to slip the rope down the log .about 30 feet, but just as the winch was stopped the lead tree broke away. Witness ran down the tramline about 40 feet. Deceased must have stood where he was. When

the tree fell, witness called. out but got no answer. Smith said He s under the head.” Witness iound deceased about 16 feet from where he was standing. Deceased must have jumped just as the tree fell. Witness immediately felt the pulse of the deceased, and there was no moVj.ment. Witness told Smith to whistle the other men in. After the other men arrived they released de from the head of the tree The lead tree was absolutely sound. Witness had had 23 years’ experience as a bushman and he had never seen a lead tree break in a manner sjmua l to this one. After the tree had fallen witness noticed that it was a brittle tree, but it would be impossible to ascertain this when it was standing without chopping into it. ft was not unusual to strike a tree of this nature. Witness always impressed on the men working under him not to take a risk. The lead tree Weis over two feet in diameter. Ine block was about ten feet up the tree and the tree snapped about 2 feet b inches to 3 feet from the giound. Where the tree snapped there z was a rope cut about two inches deep and a foot long. The would weaken the tree slightly. The drum was full of rope and this would take at lease a quarter of the power off the winch. Witness had been using the leading tree in question for four weeks.

To the Senior Sergeant: On measuring it two days after the accident he found that the scarf was live inches deep in one place, but on the average it would be under two inches in depth. Deceased was an experienced bushman and never took a risk.

To Mr Taylor: He did not know of the rope cut, or scarf, until the Monday after the accident. He knew that there was a mark on the tree, but did not know that it was chopped out. Even if he had known of the cut, he would still have continued to use the tree as a lead tree. To Mr Kitchingham: It was a rimu tree and did not break at the cut.

Gordon Blair, general manager of Stratford, Blair and Co., said that deceased started work at the Dobson mill as a snigger on October 13. Witness had viewed the place and in his opinion, the circumstances could not be foreseen. Witness had had 28 years’ experience in sawmilling and bush work, and he had never seen a lead tree snap in a manner similar to the one which killed deceased. In his opinion, Wilson, the leading bushman, took all the precautions necessary.

T'o Mr Taylor: He saw the cut in the tree after the accident. He would have considered the tree was strong enough for the fairly heavy lift, even with the cut.

Constable J. W. Hammond, of Brunnerton, said he took measurements at the scene of the accident at about 11.30 a.m. the same morning. The tree had snapped by a rope mark five inches deep .at the deepest part and about two feet eight inches long. The tree was seven feet eight inches round just below the rope mark and was seven feet round at the rope mark. The mark was about 18ins. from the ground and there was about 3ft 6in of stump left in the ground. In falling the tree struck .a bank and about 56 feet from the first break, about 21 feet of the top end of the tree broke off. Deceased was hit on the back of the head by this part of the tree, about five feet from the top end. When the tree snapped deceased was standing on the bank on which the top part of the tree broke. The body was about 24 feet from the bank and about eight feet below the surface of the bank. The lead block was attached to the lead tree about 17 feet from the ground.

To Mr Taylor: He disagreed with the estimates of the previous witnesses as to the height of the lead block. He carried out the measurements with a tape. Examined by Mr Kitchingham witness said he had measured the mark of the strop holding the lead block. Recalled by the Senior Sergeant, the witness Wilson said he agreed that the strop carrying the lead block was 17 feet up the tree, but the lead block was actually seven or eight feet below the strop. By agreement, Constable Hammonds’ evidence was amended to read “lead strop” instead of lead block.

In giving his decision the Coroner said he would like to take the oppor-' tunity to offer the sympathy of the court to the relations of deceased.