THE RECENT QUARRY ACCIDENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14658, 27 January 1912, Page 6

THE RECENT QUARRY ACCIDENT.

'A STATEMENT CORRECTED. REPORT BY INSPECTOR OF MINKS.

At tho meeting of the Harbour Board yn-;terday, the Chairman made brief referou-cio to idle recent quarry ill-client to correct an erroneous statement that lui'J l-.c-.-u telegraphed by tlm i'rebs .A: -.o -iatiou in connection with the inqici-. The re ports in fh-i local pajK-is -..--;-o cortect. but the Pi-ess As .:.< iaih,u m-.s-iTO .stated that the 1,1a.-,t had 1.c.-n huiVicd .so as not to kcc.> memo, is „f the Beard waiting. No such .-faiciiifiit »j nindo at tlio inquest, and it was contrary to fact. Ilu ini.s at the quarry that dnv on Jiiifiilior mnil-er, and heard that a blast was gob:-; to take place. 'Tho fliuirry fcr-Miau told Join that a shot would probably be bred about 3.30 that iifl-.-ruoon, and he (.the Speaker) Bind that ho migbt l> ; . Micro about that time, but gave instructions that the quarry work was not to be d.ohiyed on be; aoooliiif. Ho went to the quan-v m oniuiHuiy will, Jlr Uolleston that aitonic,in, and when tlw arrived, the bhi."-l-. war. ready for firing, so 'that t.n re was no (-r-ir-iou to buiTV mattern, lb, t'h<.u.-!it. that a. corrnctW i-'biHild lie .s(:iil-, bv the Pi-(,a As-,ocia-fcion inaklivg it nl'iin that, the piwcnt-e ol imiiiilv rs of the Board at- tho quarry that, t|.,y ] K ,d notbiii" whatever to do with tic- lu-vidont. Mr Otbel! au-p-cd willi this, and bukl thai; I'r.-nr, the telerratn it would yppear that ail tho meiubon. of the Board were at. Ihr, quarry, and that tlm_j;Jiot was hurried to sirit their convenience. Mr Pollcston snid there was not tn« Mighto-d, inundation for the statement. AAhen bo and ;,!,- Tiirnbull arrived at the quarry tin, wh.o'e. thing was ready for firm-.- and there was no hurrying of the bl-ist -to suit them. The .Secretary mentioned that tho engine,,- bad told him that be did not even know J ,- Turn hull or Mr Rollest.on worn to be at tho qunirv on tho <lav in question. Mr Turnbull added that he would iKit say much about tho fatality now, jiK tho matf.ei-w.i3 not yet out "of the lit-nds ol tho Coroner. In reply to Mr Thew. I, e . sn id tho Board -wouM L-,i-r on hold ,-,. full enquiry nuo the circumstances surroundjng. tlie fctii ilv. Hejiii-thcr-atatc-d that great credit wan one to tho Ambulance Brigade for the prompt manner in which they reached the see no of tho ncc'do.nt witii two motor cars and rendered first aid

Thoy were on the spot in almost record time after the accident. He suggested that member; of the Hoard 'should visit the quarries that afternoon. The Covermncnt Inspector of Alines and Quarries (Mr E. It. Green) wrote in regard to the recent fatal accidental tlio quarry. He stated that be visited tli« quarry ..n the .nth inst.. and found that several of the requirements of The Quarries Act 191!), were not being complied ,vitb. The rules and regulations governing quarry work should have been posted up in "a conspicuous plaoo in the quarry. Had thi.s been done, and the "rules'complied with, th-cro irns a nossibilitv that Hay,;s. (who gave evidence at 'the inquest! wonld have reported O'Neill's dangerous way of tiring the blast. Red flags were not provided for workmen when warning travellers of danger. Signed reports of daily and weekly examination's were not keot in tho quarry a.< provided bv regulatioii. Telegrams of sympathy and regret in connection with Ihe ' -quarry- accident were received from the .Lv'ttelton Harbour Board, and Mr F. \V. Marchant (who telegraphed from the North Island).