KILLED IN A FLAXMILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9606, 4 September 1911, Page 6

KILLED IN A FLAXMILL.

INQUEST OX FRANK HEALEY. An inquest, was held before Mr A. D, Thomson, Coroner, on Saturday afternoon concerning the death of" Frank Healey, aged 35, through being caught in the machinery, at Jarvis' flaxmill, Kairanga.

Arthur McG'uno stated that he had known deceased, who was a single man, with parents residing at Tua Marina, for about ten years. Witness was a stripper-, ke'eper, and was in partnership with deceased on a contract to run Jarvis" mill. Tho machinery was steam-driven. The mill started at 7 a.m. on Saturday. About 8.5 tho scutcher belt broke, and deceased mended it. The engino was stopped, and deceased, mounted tho scutcher platform to replace tho belt on tho pulley of tlie 'intermediate shaft. The catcher, McKeown, went to assist him. Deceased was placing the belt on the scutch pulley, and McKeown was about to turn another pulley to assist him. Either Healey's pulling on tho belt or McKeown's turning the pully must have started tho engino. Deceased's coat was caught and ho was carried 1 round the shaft several times and dashed' against the platform. Witness rushed to the engine, but the engine-driv-er reached it first and tho machinery was stopped. Healcy was released in practically a dying condition, and expired in tho trap on the way to Palmcvston without regaining'consciousness. Tho starting of tlie engine might be accounted for by a leak in the slide valve. The engine would not stop completely unless steam were shut olf, The Inspector of Machinery had recently examined the plant. Tho engine had only been stopped about two minutes when the accident happened. In reply to a further question by Sergeant Willis, McCunc said it would not be possible to box-in the shaft,

WHO STARTED THE ENGINE?' Ernest McKeown gave a corroborative account of the occurrence. The machinery was not in motion when witness mounted the platform. Tho engine was stopped quickly after the accident, but not before t Ilealey had been carried round tho shaft two or thrco; times. Mffiness was unable to assign a reason for tho starting of the engine. Tho occurrence, was the first of t the kind that he had known. It would not have happened but for the unexpected starting of tho engine. The engine-driver, Coleman, stated that tho engino had been blowing-olf steam after he stopped it for tho first time. Ho noticed it and shut the steam right off. If the regulator .were not closed right down, tho machinery would be started with a slight escape of steam. Witness held a second-class locomotivfe driver's certificate. He attributed the starting of the engino to an accumulation of steam in the steam chest, possibly caused by a piece of grit finding ite way under tho throttle valve. He had known machinery previously to be started in this manner, but. not in the mill where ho was now employed. Tho engine stopped when the accident occurred. He tested the engine subsequently, and found steam could be cut off effectually. The engine was in good order throughout. Deceased must have had his foot on tho driving belt when he was caught, Tho pulley could not bo boxed. The inquest was adjourned till next Friday afternoon, in order that, the evidence of the Inspector of Machinery may he taken. Mr Cullen is visiting the sceno of tho accident to-day.