THE KONINI FATALITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 6737, 19 December 1900, Page 2

THE KONINI FATALITY.

A Significant Verdict.

The inquest on the death of tho young man Gawilb, who was killed while working at the Konini factory on Thursday last, was concluded at the Pahiatua Courthouse on Monday, The medical evidence was to tho effect that tho deceased was suffering greatly from shock. Over his left temple he had a wound about two inches long, extending to the bone; left thigh was dislocated, right foot torn off at the ankle ;• and twothirds of the leg was bare, the tissues beiug all bare and a mass of pulp; and tho kneo was fractured and bruised, also a" compound fracture of tho chest of the right hip bone. Tho doctor reduced the dislocation and with Dr, Dawson amputated tho leg above the knee. Ho ltyed for three-quarters of an hour afterwards. The cause of death was Bhock to the system caused through the injuries described.

Alexander McYick'cr, Government Inspector of Machinery, TVollington ( doposcd that ho inspected the machinery and shafting at the Konini butter-factory Ho didn't consider it safe. Thero was no fencing at all as required by themjt. Ho thought it unsafe for a boy or tdi toput a belt on the wheel whilo the engine was in motion. Examined the pulley, and thought it unsafe for a boy or man to try and put the belt on while the engine was in motion. In answer to a question, he >said it was unsafe for an expert to attempt to put tho belt on while in motion, and would not attempt to put it on himself,

Carl Anderson, architect, Eongotea, deposed that he Lad charge of the lonini creamery for the Ballance Butter Factory Company. He knew the deceased. On Thursday morning the well went dry, and ho asked to atop the engine and disconnect the pumps, and lengthen the down pipe in tho well. Was passing tho engine roomß, when he heard an unnatural noise in the machinery. Went into' the ongine room! and paw deceased fined in the pulley at lie end of (he crank shaft, near Iho wall. He, in conjunction with Mr Bowley, shut off the steam, and the lad fell from the shaft under tho. wheel. At once telephoned for a doctor. : Before steam was shut off saw the deceased turn with the wheel. Itwasnotthedcceam* duty to interfere with the machine. K deceased had no'right to put the belFon' the pulley. It was no part of his business, and had he put it on it would hare had to be taken off again, E. li. 11. Holben, mechanical engineer, of Palmerston North, deposed that deceased was employed by him as an apprentice. He never told the lad to put tho bolt on, and be had never attempted to interfere with the belting before. It was not deceased's business to do it. He did not consider it safe to put the .belt on while in motion. There would have been no danger had deceased obeyed witness' instructions. He thought with a closeboarded guard, the accident would not havo happened. Messrs George Bewley, bricklayer, Gilbert Dolon, assistant at factory, and Dennis Kelly, manager of factory, also gave evidence.

The jury, after a short retirement, brought in the verdict:—"That deceased met his death according to the medical testimony " and they added the following rider " That had the machinery been : protected according to the Act, the aocident would not have happened."'," .