WATERSIDER'S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3019, 5 March 1917, Page 6

WATERSIDER'S DEATH

ALLEGED DEFECTS IN A HATCH, «. Mr. W. G. Riddell S.M., held an inquest on Saturday concerning tho death of Alfred Haywood, which took place on the s.s. Manuka on Thursday night. Mr. P. J. O'Regan appeared on bohalf of deceased's widow.Arthur Bristow, wharf labourer, said that he and deceased -were working together on the Manuka. Witness was engaged in putting some hatches in place, and he saw deceased step on one that had just been placed. Deceased went straight down, falling some 35 feet. When picked -up, he was apparently quite dead. The accident was due, in witness's opinion, to the fact that the flange of the combing was - quite inadequate to carry a hatch. The hatch was also short. To Mr. O'Regan: Assuming that thdhatch fitted up flush, there was only one inch of iron to hold it up. rho hatch, in question was just long enough to have a hold on the flange. Dr. William Young said that when he saw deceased the latter was quite dead.' The base of his skull was fractured. v After hearing the evidence of other witnesses, the Coroner said - the evidence showed that the death of deceased was due to the condition of the hatch at the time he stepped on it"lt was not necessary for the Court to. say anything further about that, because the matter would probably be the subject of other proceedings. .16 was clear that one must characterise the death of deceased as accidental, and the verdict must bo that deatn was due to iniuries accidentally received by a fall into No. 2 hold on j tho s.s. Manuka.