REEFTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 5 July 1944, Page 6

REEFTON NOTES

[Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, July 4. .An inquest was held at the Reefton Police Station on Saturday, before Mr. W. B. Auld, Coroner, into the deatn of Ernest Sefton Topp,, aged 32 years, late of Mai Mai. Sergeant Ebbert conducted proceedings on behalf of the police. Mr. Stanley Austin gave evidence of identification, Mr. PhiLp Longman, workmate of deceased, in evidence said that a log being hauled m the bush caught a loose length of birch sapling 18 to 20 feet long and some five inches thick. One end of the sapl.ng was thrown against a tree and as the pressure increased this end freed itself from the tree ana struck deceased who had his back towards the danger/ Witness called our a warning, but as it all happened in a flash, it was doubtful if the warning was ever heard. The accident, in his opinion, could not have been averted. Charles Crooks, winch driver on the day, gave evidence that work had been proceeding as usual, when he heard the accident signal of six blasts whicn had been given by Longman. On investigation, he found deceased being attended to by Longman. Deceased was bleeding from the ears, nose ana mouth. Witness helped to bring out and convey to the Reefton Hospital deceased, who at no time fully recovered consciousness. Dr. Wicken, who attended deceased, gave evidence that deceased had died from fractures of the skull and laceration of the brain.

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death in the Reefton Hospital on June 28, 1944, as a result of injuries accidentally received whilst at his work at Sutton’s Mill, Mai Mai, on June 26, no blame being attachable to anyone. Rainfall recorded at the Reefton School of Mines by the Director, showed that rain fell on 17 days, the total fall being- 9.75 inches, with th e maximum fall on June 5, of 1.84 inches.