FALL DOWN HILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 286, 31 October 1933, Page 5

FALL DOWN HILL.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. Per Press Association. THAMES, Oct. 30. An open verdict was returned by the Coroner, Mr Bongard, at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Athol George John Connelly, aged. 28, who was killed on October 19 through falling down a cut in the hillside of the Kuranui-Golden Hills claim. Medical evidence was that death was due to suffocation through compression of the chest as the result of being buried in mullock in the liopper-top of the mill. The evidence of workmen was to the effect that safety ropes were not employed. The work of sluicing moving material down the cut was very dangerous. Connelly, as ivas the common practice, dug a pick into the hillside to lever himself out, but struck a rock and slipped, and was carried down. He was released in about ten minutes, but was dead. John Francis Downey, mining inspector, stated that the claim ivas a mine, hut he had not treated it as sucli under the Mining Act because there were insufficient men to require a qualified manager. He therefore treated it as a quarry under the Quarries Act, to ensure a certificated foreman. Ropes were not compulsory under the Mining Act. The Coroner commented that if ropes were kept it appeared they were kept in store rather than in use. Four men had previously fallen. Apparently no measures had been taken to prevent a recurrence. The men were inexperienced miners and quarrymen, therefore the management should have considered the matter. The general practice of men entering a hill to clear a stoppage with picks wa.s a most dangerous procedure, and it was gratifying to know the company had now taken safeguarding precautions. It was regrettable that a fine young man had lost his life before enough common sense was applied for the men’s safety.