FATAL QUARRY ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 13

FATAL QUARRY ACCIDENT.

FLAW IN DERRICK CHAIN. COMMENTS BY CORONER. T-, . J »■_ -f \f, .Tamo. \rml. of 71.

The deatn of Mr .lames flrmi, 01 '»• Newton Road, which occurred .it the hoc j-.tfl.' on October 6. as the result of injuries received while working in the Har-b.-ui! Hoard's quarry at Rangitoto Island. ■»« as i lie subject, of an inquest, held by "M: .1 F. Wilson, S.M., yesterday. Mr. Bjgnall was present in the interests of the Auckland Harbour Board. The evidence of fellow-workmen was to the effect that deceased, with others, was loading stone at the quarry, a crane being li.-cd to lift the metal. A box of stone had been booked on to the hoist of the crane, and when the load had beep, lifted about six feet the chain guy holding the jib of the crane in position snapped, and the jib fell, striking the deceased, who was standing nearby, on the head. He was rendered uncorscious. and subsequently removed to the hospital, where he died the same night. Dr. James T. Laurenson. resident medical officer at the hospital, said that when be examined deceased he found indications re • (impression, arid decided upon an operation. This was performed, revealing *erictus injurv to the skull and haemorrhage, and a 'thmigti the pressure was relieved the patient gradual! v sank and d-fd Evidence was given by William A. F>'.id-tiaw, foreman at the quarry, who i-.0l that he made an inspection of the gear of the crane, every morning before using it. and had tailed to find any flaw in iff chain. \\ 1 Newton, inspector of quarries, Ka'd he had inspci ted the crane since the a dent, and was of the opinion that the id lifted could ordinarily be considered a --ale cue. 'I lie '■ ''inner said that it did not seem U. hiTi that the. inspection of the chain by In" f'ir man could be considered adequate, i. ■ to d • tiSis thoroughly it would be f. >■• -ar\ to Ust each link. |iik I'ojoner re tor find a verdict that the t ,'.-■■ ■ : death was compress.on of the f'a : due to hi em- nhavre .- owing an in i"\ t/. '!,•■ .-ku": .ii !, injury be.ing caused '.-. >,-■• fail of ~. d*i!., k of -i . raise at the A i.k : -.r.<\ Flarhuir I', .*rl\ Quarrv at Ran [-..-.. U1.,,,.1 I" i.. ' . ...•-,.,- aided that ii.. f.i.l '■)' I !:•■ derr ■!. ■■•■ ;.s -i j. to the }■'■■■;.■•? of a link in a chain which --up TcrUd it owing to '.. Haw :n the link, hut lV>ero n.i.i not sirfTfient evidence before '>■—- I. -ay h.w or when the flan was r '"' ■ ■' e<|