CRUSHED UNDER A PUNT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1695, 11 March 1913, Page 4

CRUSHED UNDER A PUNT.

4 INQUEST ON MATTHIAS CLATWORTIIY.

The City Coroner (Dr. A. W. M'Arthur, S.M.) held an inquiry yesterday into tho circumstances touching tho death of Matthias Clatworthy, who was accident?"y lulled at Balena Bay on Thursday Inst. Mr. P. O'Rcgan appeared for deceased s wife, and Mr. T. S. Weston appeared for tho Harbour Bonrd. Seniorbergeant' Mullany represented the police. George Forbes,' dredgemaster, employed by the Wellingtxm Harbour Board, said that deceased, who was working with him on ono of tho Harbour Board's punts on Thursday, was placing wooden blocks under one corner of the punt, with the aid of a jack. In order to place tho blocks into position, it was necessary for deceased to l)o partly under tho punt, and it was while ne was in that position that the jack slipped, and the punt came down on his neck and shoulders. The jack was resting on a piece of tarred wood, in order to prevent it from sinking into the shingle. Witness considered that tho weight of tho punt would bo from 15 to 20 tons. ' , To Sergeant Mullany: I could not say what caused the screw to slip, unless tho tar on the wood was not properly dry. Witness was satisfied, as also was tho deceased, that it was quite, safe to work under the punt.

The Coroner returned n verdict that the deceased met his death through being accidentally crushed by a punt.