TUNNEL TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 1 June 1937, Page 5

TUNNEL TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON VICTIMS. JURY POINTS OUT DANGERS. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, May 31. A verdict that Donald Frederic Hulse and Thomas William Smith died at Homer on May 4 from injuries received as described by medical and police evidence, such injuries being received through the office in which they were working being struck by a gale of wind and an avalanche of snow and being completely demolished, was returned by the jury at an inquest at Lumsden to-day into the deaths of - the victims of the recent avalanche at Homer tunnel.

The following rider was added: “It is regrettable that the rider returned touching the death of Percy Leigh Overton, who met his death at Homer on July 6, 1936, under similar circumstances, was not adhered to, inasmuch as work was not suspended when visibility was bad. Wo further add and recommend that in no future occasions under similar circumstances, no matter what month of the year, should work be carried on at the risk of human life.' If, while men are working, It is found that through bad visibility in the vicinity of the tunnel a look-out is of no practical use, work should be immediately suspended.” John Michael Frances,' plate-layer, •giving evidence, said that there had been no-complaints by the other men about the danger of working on that particular day. In reply to a question from the acting-coroner, he said: “I do not think a look-out man would have been of any use as the snow was on us before it could be seen.” To the foreman of the jury he said: “I do not know if the office ivas on the same site as the building destroyed in the previous avalanche. I cannot say whether it is usual to work when a look-out man is not posted and visibility is bad.” George Annesley, a tunneller, said he considered that the wind was the cause of the damage, and not the snow.

John Nicholas Dawson, overseer, stated that conditions were not thought to be dangerous. It was considered in previous discussions with Smith and Hulse that it would not be necessary to remove the buildings to a place of safety for another three weeks. He had not heard any complaints about danger from avalanches. In reply to tho acting-coroner Dawson said that the office in which the two men were working was built about one-quarter of a chain nearer the tunnel mouth than the crib house demolished last year. It was snowing fairly heavily when the avalanche occurred. . •. “The evidence given is a full and detailed account of the tragic accident and will, I think, lead you to concur with the opinion of the Public Works Department that no blame is attachable to the department,” said Mr H. J. Macalister, who appeared for the Public Works Department. “I am glad that this aspect comes into the case as any other view would reflect on the man who had paid the highest penalty, Mr Hulse. The avalanche occurred two months before it could be reasonably expected. According to the department’s view this particular avalanche could not possibly have been anticipated, and I trust that a verdict excluding the department from blame will be returned and so save casting any reflection on the deceased.”