THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT MANGERE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7005, 30 April 1884, Page 6

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT MANGERE.

INQDEST ON ROBERT POLLOCK. An imjueet into the circumstances of the death of Robert Pollock, who was killed by a fall of sooria in a gravel pit in the dutriot tm the previoue day, wu held yesterday afternoon at Mr. Joseph Kattie's house, adjacent to the socne of the accident Mr. Ueorge ideAlpin wu chosen foreman of the jury ; Sergsaat Greene appeared to represent the police ; and Mr. Wm. Edwards, clerk to the Road Board, appeared to watch the interests of the Board. The jury, with the Coroner, proceeded to view the body, which wm at the residence of deceased's employer, Mr. John Miller, situated about half a mile from Mr. Hastie's house. They also inspected the quarry, »nd all agreed that it was an awfully dangerous place. The following evidence was takeo :—John Miller deposed that he was a road contractor, reaiding -t Mangere. Deceased had been in hia employ oft and on for 12 years as a dnver, and his age was 43 years. Hβ arrived au infant in the Dachese of Argyle 40 years ago. Witness sent him yesterday (Monday) as usual, to get scoria ash at Manner* mountain pit. fie left the house about eight o'clock, with a horse and dray. The next he heard was about half-p*<t-nine, when hia son came and told him that Bob and the horse were killed, and that Joseph Hastie was lying in the quarry with hit leg broken. Witness then detailed the recovery of the body of the deceased.—By the Coroner : I did not consider the quarry very dangerous, not bo dangerous but that I allowed my own «on to work on it, and had it held for five minutes longer he would have been there with the deceased. I have worked in the quarry myself up to this last two years otf and on for Iβ years, and never abandoned a job in it through any fear of danger. We endeavoured to blow down the overhanging rock with dynamite, and it would not uive way. There was no possibility of guarding against such an accident, for it came dowu without warning ; but I must say that previous to this it has given way. The top cannot be thrown down, tor blasting has no etfeot on it. The stuff seems to expand with the shot, and spring back Ihe deceased was a sober, careful man. Neither he nor the quarryman drank. There was no supervision of these quarries that witness waa aware of. Aβ tbe quarry at present stood he would not work iu it any more—not that he was afraid, but he did not wish such an accident to occur again. Deceased wu unmarried.—Dr. Scott was examined, and deposed that death must have resulted from suffocation, occasioned by the pressure of the scoria. The body was lying under an immense block of scoria, the pressure amounting to some tons, which was quite sufficient to produce asphyxia, lie considered the quarry at present in a very dangerous state, and until something was done to make it safe no one should ba allowed to work there, and it ought to be snut up.—Richard Shortt, a young lad of about 15 years of age, deposed that he was the sou of Mr. John Shortt, a settler at Mangere. On Monday morning he was sent on a message by his father at half-pait eight o'clock to the quarry. When ke arrived the mam to whom he waa sens was not there, and he remained to talk for a few minutes with Joseph Hsstie and Robert Pollock, who were loading a cart with acoria. He told them he would not like to work in it fer a pound a day. His reason for saying so was that he thought it dangerous. They asked him how j was that, and he replied taat the metal would be down upon them soon. Baatie said they wanted some metal down, and witness said it might fall on them. Deceased said it was no harm, that they would be all the better for a few benes on the road. In about three minute* after tki* it began to fall lightly. The deceased looked np, and eaid : " There is something coming down, •Joseph." Witness then heard a great noise, and ran out of the way as quick as he could, follewed by Joseph Hastie. A great mass fell, some of which fell on Hastie's leg. I When wituess looked round he saw Haetie lying on the ground about three yards from witness. Pollock an! the horse were not to be seen, and he could only see the back of the cart. Seeing that ke could j do nothing, he at once ran for ass is- j tance. He did not hear deceased cry out.— Ky the Foreman : It waa on account of the dangerous appearance of the quarry that be said he would not work for £\ a day.— Sergeant Greene deposed that Joseph Hastie • was suftVnng great pain from the injuries he had received. Witness had questioned him, and his statement was substantially the name as that given by the last witness. Witness believed the place to be in a highly dangerous state from the overhanging banks, and he would recommend that it should be either shut np or * proper face put on it. Some time ago a aettler complained of tbe unsafe state of tbe quarry, and, ia consequence of that, rupreMentations were made to the Mangers Highway Board, who had nominal charge of the quarry. He thought the local Highway Board competent to deal with the matter.—The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death," aod no blame attached to any»ne. Ihe following rider waa added :—"That the pit be closed until made safe by the proper authorities in etisrge."