KILLED IN A QUARRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19495, 26 November 1926, Page 14

KILLED IN A QUARRY.

FATE OF A PRISONER.

THE QUESTION OF SAFETY.

WARNING GIVEN BY ENGINEER, [r.v TiXU,nA!'n.~-ow.\- rortr:i:sroxT>Exx i T-U-MAKUN-UJ. Thursday. An inquest, concerning tho death of Artln:r Raster, a prtVster, ag.: 155 v ear «. who was kiih,] at the MakatcU prison quarry through a fall ,f earth on Monday was opened be:ere the district coroner. Mr. A. S. Laird. Maxwell Herbert C ; r ;! . -warder at tha prison camp, said he was engaged with deceased driving a h ie at the foot of the quarry faee. When this v.a.s €on ,„ piloted ho moved a few feet to the u ; -hi. with tho object of starting another hole and said to deceased: "Do r.ot charge, the hole until we pro. this ore in hrs'"", At, titts tune witness wrs under she dmp!essiOii toat li.oaer was iouowmc' n-,,, II- started to m ike a place f. r the drill and while so en raged a fad , f car tl: oocurrcd from the i 0f... Eof the qnarrv. Witness did not realise for llur njontent that Hasler v,as nrnler the fall but immediately after thought he must ha as ho was not in smote Witness ct:co mustered ail hards and recovered the body. ■Witness said ho was in charge of tha tjuarry. He did not hold a oomfyraan's certificate and no or,e in the prison caian that lie knew of hold a certificate. About a month ago Mr. Keller, resident engineer of the Public Works Department, warned him that a piece of the top was danger,' cash* cveihanging. Work at that, timo w;ts stopped at t ho quarry and nothing was done thoro until last Thursday. On that day and Friday .aao Saturday men were engaged it: <lwuii:ig up She floor of the quarry. " Considered it Safe to Work,"" " On Monday morning wo were short of material for bonding purposes,'* continued witness. " 1 decided to blak out a piece at. the foot or toe. The accident did not occur at this point and deceased must have gone to the left 10 or 12 feet from where we were working. J know of no reason why he should have gone to the loft tits I expected him to follow me to the right. There were three men engaged at this time in stripping tho top above whore the fall occurred with a view to further benching on the quarry face. The crusher was making a considerable noise and I heard no warning or movement from the earth falling. .[ have been engaged on quarrying and road work for the past three years. I considered it snfo to work in the quarry ,or certainly would not have sent a man in or gone myself.

Four prisoners corroborated Eaton's evidence. One said : I knew Warden Eaton warned a Maori to keep away from the overhang and I have no doubt lie warned others as he is a careful supervisor. I have heard Eaton and other officers warn men to keep away from the overhang at the quarry."

Allegation by Prisoner.

Ronald- Walter Neilson, a prisoner who was injured by the fall, said that- before'start irk; work he told Eaton, who was in charge, that it was dangerous (0 work underneath where the fall occurred. Eaton said in answer " It does not mat* ter whether you get killed or not."

In reply to the coroner witness stated that Eaton was near the face on one occasion instructing other men. Witness had made complaints against other warders in another prison, Hawtrny Warren Glynn, officer in charge of the Waikune prison camp, said that about the middle of last month ho visited the quarry with Mr. Keller and Warder Eaton. This particular spot Was discussed as being dangerous. No working was done from that day until last Monday. Last Sunday night witness discussed the quarry with Warder Eaton regarding reopening and decided to have it cleared back, stripped and benched. Ho Quarry man's Certificate.

To the coroner witness said he did not have a quonyman's certificate. Ha had had a good deal of experience "at Auckland, New Plymouth and Waikune quarries. None of the other warders had a ticket. Witness discussed the danger with Warder Eaton and the prisoner Easier. Mr. Keller drew attention to the overhang as being dangerous. Witness thoroughly understood this class of quarry. He did not believe the statement flUtlo by the prisoner Neitson. Warder Eaton carried out his duties faithfully and tactfully and the prisoners apparently liked him. I never have any complaints against him.

Peter Keller, district Public Works engineer, said that on October 15 lie visited (•hie MnJcatoke quarry in company with Mr. O'vnn and Warden Eaton, His at-

fetition was drawn to a place where wen were working as being dangerous, The face was over 30 feet high and consisted of a conglomerate, formation, including boulders up to seven or eight feet in size. A portion of the face which was vertical was badly fissured and men were attempting to loosen off some of tho mora dangerous portions with bars. Drew Attention to Danger.

" I cannot remember the words 1 used at the time," continued witness,, " But I drew forcible attention to the danger to life that existed if men were working under such conditions. Another officer who was present—l do not know his name —also heard what 1 said 1 gathered tho impression that the officers were inclined to smile at my decision, Mr. Glynn said afterwards that he had given instruct sons that work should cease at.the dangerous point. 1 also distinctly remember criticising the general working of the quarry -° the extent of mentioning that it should be worked down from the top. vYitii reference to loose hanging pieces 1 said thev could be dislodged i v bars.

I l roceeclecl If. Tokaanij oti Moftday» November 22. and again visited the ouarry subsequent to the accident. Warder Eaton pointed out Iho spot v.-here tlso roan had been killed," To the coroner witness said :t appear*"" to be the same .spot as tiiat to which ha drew attention. lie had no complaints to make -about work clono by tie Prisons Department. He always foi; id that Mr. Olvnn carried out instruction?. The coroner returned a verdict cf accidental death. Tic added a rider that tne attention of the anrhorities should ba directed to the necessifv for the salo working and proper supervision of tho quarry. _ ... The coroner said Ire v.- " Id I e faslwf in his duty if he did jjoi <'. dl thc^ attention of the Justice Depart m*nf to tee tact that'there was nc ac« I • >p ' ciuarryman in charge of the work He did not think the matter should i. -1 {here. Keener supervision in such pianos was un * doubted!v necessary to sufcireard hufflSß life. Warder Eaton had taken the same risk as deceased and the others.