HOMER TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 10

HOMER TRAGEDY

FINDING OF THE JURY RIDER ADDED TO VERDICT SAFETY OF MEN ESSENTIAL CESSATION DURING UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS (Per United Press Association) INVERCARGILL. May 31. A verdict that Donald Frederic Hulse and Thomas William Smith died at the Homer on May 4 from injuries received as described by the; medical and police evidence, such injuries being received through the office in which they were working being struck by a gale and an avalanche and being completely demolished, was returned by the jury at the inquest at Lumsden to-day into the death of the victims of the recent avalanche at the Homer tunnel. The following rider was added:— It is regrettable that the rider returned touching the death of Percy Leigh Overton, who met his ' death at the Homer on July 6. 1936, in similar circumstances, was not adhered to, inasmuch as work was not suspended when the visibility was bad. We further add and recommend that on no future occasions in similar circumstances, no matter what the month of the year, should the work be carried on at the risk of human life. If, while the men are working. it is found that, through bad visibility in the vicinity of the tunnel, a look-out is of no practical use, work should be immediately suspended. NO COMPLAINTS OF DANGER " John Michael Frances, a platelater, giving evidence, said that there had been no complaints by other men about the danger of working on that particular day. In reply to a question from the acting coroner, he said: “ I do not think a look-out man would have been of any use, as the snow was on us before it could be seen.” To the foreman of the jury he said: “ I do not know if the office was on the same site as the building destroyed in the previous avalanche. I cannot say whether it is usual to work when a look-out man is not posted and the visibility is bad." „ ~ George Annesley, a tunneller, said he considered that the wind was the cause of the damage and not the snow. John Nicholas Dawson, overseer, stated that the conditions were not thought to be dangerous. It was considered in previous discussions with Smith and Hulse that it would not be necessary to remove the buildings to a place of safety for another three weeks. He had not heard any complaints about danger from avalanches. In replv to the acting coroner. Dawson said the office in which the two men were working was built about one-quarter of a chain nearer the t'mnel moutl than the crib house demolished last year. It was snowing fairly heavily when the avalanche occurred. THE DEPARTMENT S VIEW “ The evidence given is a full and detailed account of a tragic accident, and will, I think, lead you to concur with the opinion of the Public Works Department that no blame is attachable to the department,” said Mr H. J. Macalister, who appeared for the Public Works Department. "I am glad that this aspect comes into the case, as any other view would reflect on the man who had ™id the highest penalty, Mr Hulse. The avalanche occurred two months before it could be reasonably exoected According to the department's view, this; particular avalanche could not nossibly have been anticipated, and I trust that a verdict excluding the department from blame will be returned, and so save cystine any reflection on the deceased.”