A FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1938, Page 5

A FATALITY

IN REWANUI COALMINE. Caught by a fall of stone at O’Bneh and Party’s Co-operative Coal Mine at the binns extended scheme at Rewanui, at 11.30 b’clpck : ‘ yesteMay^ r '■) Robert Knight, matried,‘aged 51 years, of Runanga one of the best know ii - men m the Labour movement on the West Coast, met his death. Deceased was engaged at the faco in the high pillar 'section, when without the lightest warning, there. "nas a fall of between"''a ltd RCOO tons* of stone, which dropped out from the loof above, completely burying Knight to a depth of over 20 feet. His mate, II rlliam Armstrong, who had just; filled a box with coal, and was near the bottom of the section, had a remarkable esc,ape ( having to run out or uie way of" tho falling stone. Working unceasingly up to 6,15 o’clock last evening, the deceased’s workmates, with the assistance of tho Mines Inspector (Mr W.' Parsonage), extricated the body. Ihe work was accomplished by means of stripping tho rib for a distance of 36 feet". There was no apparent injury to the body, which was found lying face downwads at the coal face, deceased still having the p:ck in his hand. Apparently death was due to suffocation. Several blasts were required to remove the stone before tho body could be recovered. The late Mr Knight, who was a native of Australia, and a relative of Mrs Semple, wife of the Hon. R, Semple, had resided for about a quarter.of a century on the \Y est Coast, following coal-nuning. at which he was a very competent operator. He leaves a family of eight, four daughters and four sons, tlie daughters . being Mrs W. Montgomery and Miss Helen Knight (Greymouth), and Misses Patricia and Amelia Knight (Rmianga), while tho sons, John, Philip. William and James, are all residents of Greymouth. He is also survived by seven sisters and a brother who resides in Australia.