Workman’s Fatal Fall at Mine

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7301, 31 October 1933, Page 6

Workman’s Fatal Fall at Mine

CORONER RETURNS OPEN VERDICT. Per Press Association. THAMES, Last Night. An open verdict was returned by the Coroner (Mr Bongard) at the conclusion of the inquest on Athol Gcoigc John Connelly, aged liS, who was killed on October 19 through falling down, a cut on the hillside at the Kuranui Golden Hills claim. The medical evidence was that death was duo to suffocation through compression of the chest. The evidence of workmen was to the effect that safety ropes were not cmployed. The work of sluicing moving material down the cut was very danegrous. Connelly, as was common practcc, dug a pick into the hillside to lever himself out, but struck a rock and slipped, being carried down and released after about ten minutes, when ho was dead. John Francis Downe, mining inspector, stated that the claim was a mine, but ho had not treated it as such under the Mining Act, because thc7e were insufficient men to require a qualified manager. Therefore, he treated it as a quarry under the Quarries Act, to ensure a certificated foreman. Ropes were not pulsory under the Mining Act.

The Coroner commented that if ropes were kept, it appeared they were kept in store, rather than in use. lour men had previously fallen, but it had been treated as a joke, and 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 the hill to clear a stoppage with picks was a most dangerous procedure. It was gratifying to know that the company -had now taken safeguarding precautions, but it was regrettable that a fine young man’s life had been lost before enough commonsense had been applied for the men s safety.