KILBIRNIE TUNNEL ACCIDENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13837, 26 February 1907, Page 3

KILBIRNIE TUNNEL ACCIDENT.

THE INQUEST. . {Put TJctted Press AssocrATioK.j WELLINGTON, February 25. Tho Inquiry concerning the deaths of Barrett. Hiirington, and Elie, who wcro killed by the fall of earth in the Kilbirnio tunnel on Friday night, was continued to-day before the district coroner. An engineer' was present on behalf of the Public Works Department.

Evidence was given by men who had worked in the tunnel' concerning the methods adopted when putting in timbers and in taking them. away.. They all agreed that every care was taken, though ono said some of tho bars were lighter than ho had seen used in similar works in England. When tho king post was taken from the timbers early in tho evening everything 6cemed secure.

The inspector of works for tho corporation, said that while ho considered tho timber used as a wholo was 6trong enough, ho had about 10 weeks ago pointed out that, the timber which was then being utilised at tho scene of the accident was not strong enough. Stronger timber was secured. There was bad earth at this particular spot. In his opinion the accident occurred through the sido lengths between tho sills been taken out without supports being put in between. Tho sills wore not let into tho earth at each side sufficiently to prevent a lateral movement.

Mr M'Guire, the contractor, said his foremen controlled the details of the work, and were Riven anything they asked for. If they had wanted Oregon fogs for timbering they could have had them. Tho city engineer said every precaution had been taken on tho works. Tho cause of the accident, he thought, was tho removal of tho horizontal 6preader securinff tho traverse timbering. Sir Hay, engineer of tho Public Works Department, agreed with this theory. In his opinion tho timber was Aveafc.

The jury returnee] a verdict that death was accidental, adding a rider that thore ■was not sufficient expert supervision exercised on the works during the night-shifts.