WHARF WORKER'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17889, 17 September 1921, Page 7

WHARF WORKER'S DEATH.

♦ FINDING OF THE CORONER. DEFECTIVE BOLT THE CAUSE 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 Retriever on September 9, was concluded yesterday before the coroner, Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.. Mr. Durham watched proceedings for the relatives of deceased, Mr. Hillyer for the Waterside Workers' Union, and Mr. Bagnall for the Union Steam Ship Company. Thome s Gartland, waterside worker, said he. wag driving the wincL on the Kawatiri, unloading coal into the hulk Retriever. About 8.45 a.m. deceased and his mate were standing on the landing stage on the Kawatiri waiting for a basket of coal to come out of the hold. The hulk's derrick was just .taking the strain in lifting a basket, when the main stay, which was attached to the deck of the bulk, appeared to give way, and the derrick fell on the staging. It knocked deceased down and pinned him to the staging. William Wigmore Stuart, surveyor of ships in the Marine Department, was recalled. He said that since the accident the department had been requested to survey the hulk, and this had been done by witness on September 12. Witness passed her, subject to alterations. He discovered several bolts like the one produced, and ordered them to be destroyed. Thy did not penetrate the planking and beams, and their lower ends could not be seen. ' -

Frederick Hammond, police sergeant, said he had searched the register of the Auckland Harbour Board, and found that the Retriever was registered as a 1 hulk on September 5. It was compulsory to' register all hulks. By provisions of section 41 of the Harbour Regulations Act it appeared that all hulks must be surveyed before being licensed. Witness considered this very necessary. * The coroner found that deceased was killed through the derrick falling on him while working on the coalhulk Retriever. The fall of the derrick was due to the pulling out from its position of a defective eve-bolt,' to which the pulley of the derrick was fastened. Its defects consisted of the absence of spiral worms on its surface, and the absence of a plate und nut on the lower end. This particular bolt did not penetrate the deck and crossbeams, nor did its lower end project. It was simply driven into a bored hole.