INQUEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1814, 22 July 1891, Page 3

INQUEST.

A*i inquest" touching the death of Thomas Law, aged 72 years, who was killed by a fall of coal while working in Jones's pit at Coal Creek last Saturday afternoon, was held on Monday before Mr Jabez Burton, J.P., acting-Corozier and a jury. The first witness called was John Jones, coalpit proprietor, who deposed that the deceased Thomas Low lived on his premises at Coal Creek, and worked at his pleasure -in the pit, but did not receive any wages. At this juncture, the question was raised : Does a coalpit come under the provisions of the Mines Act; ? The act-ing-Coroner stated that he had telegraphed to the Minister of Mines on the subject, and had received a reply to the effect that Jones's pit came under the operations of the Act. The local policeofficer had been instructed to act in the : interests of the Inspector of Mines and to I transmit a report of the proceedings to headquarters. Witness continued : Law had been living on his- property for about four years. The pit at the time of the accident was in its usual working order. Witness did not consider it in any way dangerous. He was in the pit about 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, and did not notice anything out of the ordinary. There was no danger in working the pit provided ordinary precaution was taken. He saw deceased with a bucket when he visited the pit at 11.30 o'clock. When witness next saw deceased he was lying in the pit at the place where the accident occurred, apparently in great pain. Assistance Avas got and he was taken to his hut close by. Dr Cook was sent for and arrived about four o'clock, shortly before deceased expired. To a jui'yman : Deceased said he was turning away from the face when a fall of coal struck him and .knocked him down. He complained of being hurt about the kidneys. He had not been working previously at the place where the accident occurred. Deceased got everything he wanted in the shape of provisions without payment. John Eutherford deposed that he was a labourer employed at Mr Jones's coalpit. Deceased came to the pit about 11.30 on Saturday morning, carrying a bucket on his head. He placed the bucket on a bench in the face of the pit and commenced to work. Witness went to dinner about 12.30, leaving deceased then at work in the pit. When he returned about 1.30 from dinner, he heard deceased calling out for help. On reaching the pit, witness found deceased lying on a bench of coal in the face, partly covered with dross and dirt. He cleared the rubbish away with his hands, and got his arms round deceased and dragged him away from the bench. Mr Jas. Elliott, Mr Jones, and others assisted to carry deceased to his hut. He complained of his back and right leg being hurt. Witness did not thank the pit dangerous when he left for dinner. Deceased "was a rather careless man, and must have undermined the coal when witness was* at dinner. Fully two loads of coal must have fallen. Deceased was about 72 years of age, and he understood he was a native of Kilmarnock. To a juryman : Had heard Mr Jones's manager caution deceased about hi 3 carelessness when at work. Witness had also frequently spoken to him on the same matter, but he took no notice, being very obstinate. Dr Cook deposed that when he saw deceased at 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon he was in a semi-conscious . state, groaning and breathing heavily. Witness was told that he complained of pains in the stomach, but he could not detect anything wrong. He examined deceased carefully and found that both

his legs wore broken below the knee ; he had also a few cuts skin deep on the forehead aud left wrist. Falling coal would cause such injuries. In witness's opinion death was caused by internal injuries. Constable Fouhy gave immaterial evidence. The jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict of acci- j dental death. j