MILL OWNER'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 11

MILL OWNER'S DEATH

HOOK SLIPS FROM LOG I EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Monday Tlio adjourned inquest cnnrcrning the death on November 28 of Walter Steels, sawmill owner, of Mamaku, who received fatal head injuries through being struck by ;i hook \vhich slipped during the hauling of a log, was concluded before the district coroner, Mr. S. L. Faterson, ' S.M., at Rotorua to-day. Thomas C. Wooffindin, a mill hand employed hy Steele Brothers at Mamaku, gave evidenco that during the moving of a log the. hook slipped out and flew back, striking deceased <>n the head. Witness said it was not usual to trip the block while the strain was on, but the strain was not on when they went' to do so. As far as he knew haul was finished. David Widdup. winch driver, said ho was at. the. winch and deceased with two workmen was attending to the rope. Witness could not. see from his position exactly what happened. When the hook flew out ho, stopped the winch immediately. The hook often flew out- as if. did on this occasion. Deceased was experienced in handling logs and would kno\r that he, was running a risk. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death through an accident. during log-hauling operations at the mill.