MINING ACCIDENT INQUIRY

Southland Times, Issue 17308, 2 April 1913, Page 5

MINING ACCIDENT INQUIRY

RIDING ON SKIPS. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 1. An inquest regarding the deaths of William Hyde and Thomas Mcßride, who were killed in the Talisman mine on Friday afternoon, was held at Paoroa today before Mr Joseph Nathan (coroner). Tiie first witness was Harry Beckett, the engine driver who was in charge of No. 8 shaft, where the accident occurred. He said that Mcßride was a skipman and Hyde an asistant skipman. The two deceased loaded tiie skin half full with amunition. As was customary when lowering goods they put in about 50 drills. When tiie last drill was put on Mcßride asked him to lower the skip a little as it was 100 light. Just as witness turned to do so the skip broke away and went down the shaft. He had been driving the engine for about eight years. The rope on the south side was put on about twelve months before last Christmas, and the rope on tiie north side was nut on about four months ago. He could not tell bow long a rope should last. it was customary for the skipmen to use the skip whenever (hoy liked. The mining officials were allowed to use the skip, and certain of (lie employees had a similar privilege, but tbe company was responsible for those men. During (he eight years iie had been at the mine lie had never seen a rope on (lie skip tested, and lie had seen it examined only twice Ho tiad not seen rope oiled or grease,] during tiie last six months. Tiie breaking strain of tbe rope was 15 tons, and tiie working strain 25 tons. He had seen tbe shift boss give a notice warning men not to ride on the skip, but lie had not seen any such notice at No. 8 level. Mine managers and bosses had been present when men had gone down on the skip. The signals generally recognised wore three rings for material and four rings for men on tho skips. He would not swear there were not six notices posted up warning men not to ndo on the skip. He had no reason to believe the rone to be unsafe. The inquest was adjourned for a fortnight.