MINING FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 42, 18 February 1905, Page 6

MINING FATALITY.

MAN KILLED BY A FALL OF EARTH. I.- ' " • . ■ (By Telegraph.—O-n-u Correspondent.) ■'■ ■■ ~ '■"■-,■ • THAMES, this day. A fall of earth in the Maseotte mine, Otanui, on Friday morning, resulted in the death" of a miner named Henry John Peploe. The deceased and another miner named Robert Otto were enlarging the shaft when about Uewt of mullock fell away and caught Peploe in the chest, pinning him to the ground, death being evidently instantaneous. On receipt of the news by thfc Thames police, a detective and Dr. Bond proceeded to the scene of the accident. When the doctor arrived it was found that Peplpe was dead, and the body was at once conveyed to the Thames. At the inquest held before the coroner (Mr. A. Bruce) on Friday night, the medical evidence was to the effect that there were wounds on the head and severe injuries to the chest, the hitter alone being sufiicie,nt to cause death. The manager (Mr. G. Peploe), who is the brother of the deceased, stated that he had been down the shaft in the morning, and had considered the workings reasonably safe. The piece that had fallen had slipped off what is known as a soapy head. Mr. Coutts, the mining inspector, deposed to having inspected the scene of the accident after the fall had taken place. He thought no blame could be attachable to anyone, and that the slip could not have been foreseen. A verdict of accidental death was accordingly returned.