DEATH OF CONTRACTOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 14

DEATH OF CONTRACTOR.

FALL FROM SCAFFOLDING. ACCIDENTAL OCCURRENCE. A verdict of accidental death was returned by tho coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at tho inquest yesterday into tho death of James Garner, aged 33, contractor, as tho result of injuries received in falling from tho roof of a garago in Napier Street. Deceased was married with two children, and resided at 56, Mackelvio Street, Ponsonby.

Bryan Edward Bennett, a mechanic cmployed by Todd and Company, said that or. January 23 he was at work in the garage while deceased was working under tho roof on a scaffold about 30ft. abovo tho concrete floor. Witness heard a thud and then saw deceased lyi"R on " oor - Ho was conscious, but did not speak. There wero fumes in the garage from tho exhausts of motor-cars, but the cars had boon stopped for about 20 minutes. A certificate that tho scaffold was safe and complied with all regulations was produced by John M.tth™ Murdoc scaffolding inspector, who stated that ho had inspected tho work, shortly before tho accident occurred. When he left deceased was at work in what witness considoied a safe position. As ho left he saw a cloud of smoko from a new car which was being started, and later ho wondered whether the fumes had caused deceasod to faint. Dr 11. W. D. Maxwell said that when Garner was admitted to tho hospital he was unconscious and was suffering from nn extensivo fracture of tho sktill, and fractures' of tho loft wrist, elbow and nolvjs Soon after deceased was operated unon ho became worse, and died about throe and fc-half hours after admission. No post-mortem examination was made and theru was no evidence to show whether thore were any fumes in deceased's lungs.