DEATH OF WATERSIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1888, 16 September 1921, Page 6

DEATH OF WATERSIDES.

COLLAPSE OF A DERRICK. BOLT DRAWN FROM „ WOOD. The inquest on Mr. James Francis Brady, a, waterside ; worker, who - was killed by a falling derrick while assisting to unload coal from the Union' Steam Ship Company's steamer Kawatiri ; into the, hulk Ketriever : last : Friday . morning, was continued before the coroner, Mr." J. W. Poynton, S.M., yesterday. ; Mr. Durham watched proceedings for the relatives of deceased, Mr. HiLjajr for the Waterside Workers' Union, and Mr. Bagnail for the Union Steam Ship Company. No eye-witness \of the accident was present, and after other 'evidenco had been heard the inquest was'further adjourned until three o'clock to-day. \ ft - ( William Wigmore Stuart, surveyor of ships in the Marino. Department, said that just after the accident ho examined the fallen derrick. It v had been shifted from where it fell. The derrick itself and the gear connected with it were in good order, with the exception, of a bolt. ■, It was' an eye-bolt in tno covering-board on the deck to take, through tackle, the whole weight of the, derrick. The cause of the accident was the bolt drawing out* of the covering-board and. letting the derrick fall. It was not the usual bolt for the purpose. It was defective because it fed no worm, fish plate, or nut to keep it from drawing out. -The bolt had been there (since the chip was bulk. - Thej defect could ■ not :. have been •• seen from the deck. The Retriever bad never been surveyedi by witness' department. A survey would not have shown the defect as the . lower part of thfi bolt was not visible. . Personally if witness had surveyed the ship and could not see the end of the bolt :he would not have ■ passed itI .To'Mr.'Hillyer : The depth of the holo from which the bolt came was 15in.; and the length of the bolt from the eye was 12m.: The hole ; did not go through the beam under the coveriiig-board. .v: . „ To Mr. Bagnall: Eo had : never seen a bolt the size of the one in question which did not. have a nut-and plate attached. The wood round the bolt hole was sound. :' William John Jones, waterside worker. said i ho' was working ; alongside deceased when . the accident occurred. Deceased and another, man www tipping coal out of the baskets from .1 the : steamer Kawatiri into a chute' leading into the hulk ' Retrieyer. . ■ The baskets were being lifted fay a winch . on tb a staging . between; the vessels, and on this . deceased was standing. Witness was - also struck -by something, and knew nothing until he was picked up. "He had not actually seen the accident. \ ' "' - ' •At this stagi the hearing was adjourned. ' . . r