AN ENGINE-DRIVER'S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1819, 4 August 1913, Page 4

AN ENGINE-DRIVER'S DEATH

PAEKAKARIKI'S APPLIANCES. •' Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., held an inquiry on Saturday as to t'lio death of Peter J&cfeon, a locomotive driver, employed by the Railway Department, wlio died at the hospital on Thursday, as a result of injuries received at Paekaknriki on July 11, whilst repairing an engine which had been j aclcetl. • Thomas Cairns, senior driver, stated that decoased was working the jack, which wag carrying tho wheels of the engine, tlio latter resting oji a wooden support. Tho wheels had been lowered two stages, and were stationary when tho aocident occurred. As ■witness was going round to tho other side to further adjust tho wheels, deceased started .to go to tho rear of the wheel. Tho next tiling witness saw was the axle of the wheels lying across Jaokson's thighs, and pinning him to tho beam. The jacl: had evidently slipped witli the moving of the wheel, and in Ill's opinion deceased had accidentally brushed against it ivitli his coat. To Ma\ D. Smith, who represented deceased's relatives: Tho, appliances for tho repair of this class of work were not so safe at Paekakariki as at Wellington and other,large centres, where iiydraulio raths were usually used, these being quicker and! safer than tlw sorew jacks. Deceased was a careful and Eober workman. After other witnesses had given similar evidence, tho coroner returned a verdict of accidental dentil, and expressed tho opinion that 110 blame was attached to anyoiii'. /'He'TOs'tfattsfie.^ihat 1 deceased was a careful and efficient workman.