POISONED BY GAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21794, 8 May 1934, Page 11

POISONED BY GAS

FEILDING WORKS CASE THE CORONER'S VERDICT DEATH A PURE ACCIDENT [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] FEILDING. Monday The fatality at the Feilding gasworks on Saturday was investigated to-day at the inquest on Mr. Cyril Creswell Bray, aged 25, formerly of Wellington, the coroner returning a verdict of death by misadventure through gas poisoning. Deceased and another man had been engaged in repairing a valve. It appeared from the evidence, said the coroner, that every precaution had been taken. The men had been carrying out their work in the usual way and no blame was attachable to anyone, the death of Mr. Bray being a pure accident.

The second person, concerned in the accident, Mr. James Leaver, was still suffering from tho effects of gas this morning but was able to attend to give his evidence.

Leaver, who said he had had 30 years' experience in gas engineering, explained he was repairing a valve which was a one-man job but a second man was there to watch owing to the danger of being gassed. Witness had taken the cap off the valve when he found gas coining out too strongly to remove tho slide, so he puttied it to stop the leak of gas. Witness then asked Bray for more putty. This was the last he remembered until he found himself in the Palmerston North Hospital. Replying to the coroner witness said the work was not unusual. It was done every day at gasworks. There was a considerable amount of danger and for that reason a second man was always in attendance. There wore no definite rules laid down regarding the wearing of gas masks. An operator could not do tho work with a mask on. When gas valves were opened the procedure was to block the vent with putty and the waste cap of the valve was replaced quickly. This was done on Saturday as far as placing the putty in was concerned, but witness did not remember anything more. George Henry Mansfield, manager of the Feilding Gas Company, stated lie could not understand both men being overcome together. It was the first time witness had heard of such an occurrence.

After other evidence had been given the coroner returned his verdict.