FALL FROM BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 13

FALL FROM BUILDING.

DEATH OF CARPENTER.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST,

The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Ernest Frank Rutherford, who was killed as a result of falling from the top storey of the Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Company's building at the corner of Welleslev Street and Elliott. Street on March 8, was resumed yesterday by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Sergeant Clark conducted the proceedings for the police. Mr. Tuck appeared for the Carpenters' Union, Mr. Milliken for the contractors and Mr. Sellar for the assurance company. Ernest Frederick Bowden, a carpenter employed on the building, said that about 11.50 a.m. on March 8 he was working with deceased on the tower of the building, on the side overlooking Elliott Street. Deceased was adjusting a shutter which was out of alignment. Witness turned his back for a moment and his attention was arrested by noticing the shutter falling outward over deceased's head. He saw deceased fall backward, striking the scaffolding below and somersaulting to a lower scaffolding, from which he fell directly to the street. The drop was about 105 ft. Deceased was in his usual health and spirits prior to the accident. The portion'-of the building on which witness and deceased were working was not protected by scaffolding, but there was a parapet 2ft. in height. Ernest Burchall, scaffolding inspector, of Auckland, said he had inspected the building two days prior to the accident. The scaffolding regulations were complied with absolutely. He also visited the building on the Monday morning following the accident and found that every adequate precaution had been taken for the safety of the men. In answer to Mr. Tuck witness said that there "vvas no requirement in the regulations for scaffolding on that portion of- the building. The inquest was then adjourned until this morning to enable a copy of the scaffolding regulations to be produced.