FATAL PALL DOWN A HATCHWAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 5

FATAL PALL DOWN A HATCHWAY

INQUEST ON THOJIAS WHITTLE!'

The inauest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Thomas Whittley, who was a metal worker's assistant einnloved bv Messrs. Cable and Co., and who had fallen down the hold of the steamer Kin Ora, was concluded before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at tho courthouse yesterday. Dr. S. B. W. Strain, house 6urgeon at tho Wellington Hospital, said that the deceased was dead when aomitted to the institution on Friday last. He had sustained a fractured skull. Death was due to shock, following on a had frae- . turn of the skull.

The Coroner, after reviewing the evidence. said that it had been plainly shown that tho hntchway down which o'eceased fell wns not sufficiently lighted. There was nothing to show how he camo to fall, whether ho tripped or stumbled. The verdict would bo in accordance with the medical testimony. Jlr. P. J. O'Regan, who appeared for the widow, requested the Coroner to add a rider to the effect that it was no part of deceased's outy to light the hatch. The regulations gazetted under the Harhours Act, section 41a, provided that whenever a hatch of a snip waa open for the purpose of working cargo or otherwise, and thore was not sufficient liuht for Dersons working at or near the hatch or for persons to see clearly that the hatch was open, tho master of the ship should place at the hatch a light, or liirhts. of sufficient brilliancy to cnablo all to see that tho hatch was open. That regulation, 6nid counsel, was not complied with in the present case.

The Coroner said that the attention of tho Harbour Board would certainly bo called to this fact