THE KAITI FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1867, 22 September 1906, Page 2

THE KAITI FATALITY.

An inquest conoerning the death William McLeod was held afternoon before Mr Bartoo, Coroner, and|H the following jury: Messrs J. East mao), C. Wood, Vipis, G. Jonnstone, F. MoLeaD, and C. Boland. The Gisborne Sheepfarmera’ Company was by Mr Stock. J. R. Jones, chief engineer at the works, deposed that deceased was employed general assistant in connection with the gas producer—his dupes were to oharge the gas producer, look after the water supply, and to trap the water in the main pipes. Be had been performiog those duties for about three months. The ttap where the accidenpocourred wbb outside the wotks, on the footpath at the side of the road, Iu letting oS the water from this trap, a person would first unscrew a cover, and then step down into a hole (about 3ft 6in deep by 2ft 6in square). The main pipe was about ba'.fway down the hole ; deceased would have to step on to it, and reach down to unscrew a plug, starting it with a screw wrench. As soon as this was done the water would begin to flow, and gas would follow. After thtu deceased would immediately put the plug in again, thß whole operation taking about three minutes. The practice was similar to that carried out at all gaswoiks. By Sergeant W 1 urns: tie thought thli north-id us d wa- qu-te a- safe as the USO o f a ap if ordinary prro-u ions were used, Tuere was no danger in taking tho plug right out.

By Mr Stock: All the water could come out of the trap before the gas began to flow For any gas to accumulate in iho box the plug must have been lefi out for some time. There was no necessity what ever for the deceased to have kept the plug out for any time If the deceased, for any reason had left the hole open for say, ten minutes, gas would have accumulated, and in bending down to replace the plug he would get the whole force of the gas. By the foreman: It would be possible to put in a cock of some sort that could be turned off from a distance. There was no danger at all if the plug was re-screwed up immediately the water ceased to flow. This had been done on many ruipficinno

Dr. Collins stated that from the appearance of the blood death was probably due to the inhalation of some noxious gas, probably carbon dioxide This gas was much more dangerous than ordinary coal gas. Coal gas supported combustion, and carbon dioxide did not. Carbon dioxide was odorless. R. E. Lindsay, second engineer at the works, deposed that at about 10 on Thursday morning he saw deceased on his way to trap the pipes. Witness had done tbe same work frequently himself. The work was not dangerous if properly done. Deceased had never complained of feeling unwell after performing this part of hie duties. Witness found the body partly in the well of the trap, the head hanging back on the ground above the trap, and he immediately lifted the body out. By Mr Stook : Deceased had been away from twenty to twenty-five minutes before witness fouad the body. When fauud part of the shoulders and the head were above the ground, Witness described the operation of trapping tho water from the pipe, After the water had escaped, the gas would, in the ordinary way, oome through very slowly. The amount of gas that escaped would vary according to the amount of power used by tbe maohinery, If the load was email it would rush out, and with a heavy load there would be a suction of air into the pipes. With Thursday’s load he thought the hole might possibly fill in five minutes. There would be danger in re-eorewiog the plug if it had been left out for seme; time. He had explained tbe danger of the gas to deosased, If there was no wa'.er in tbe pipe the gas would coma out at onoe. There was praoiioally always a certain amount of water in the pipes. Geotge Mcßae, turner and fitter at the wotks, stated that he saw the body afier Mr Lindsay bad taken it from the hole, Mr Lindsay went awßy to ring up the doctor, and witness went to put tbe plug id. Witness had frequently done tbe work before, and had suffered no ill effects from i>. No one iostrueted him to replace the plug on Tbu-r-day. John Lynch, employed on the s.s Tuatea, stated lie had formerly worked at the freezing works three or four months ago. It was witness’s duty o attend to the gas producer, and incidental!v to tap the

mains. On the first occasion when lie did this work, had felt giddy on standing up after having his head in the hole. On other occasions had felt no ill effects while tapping the mains, By Mr Stock: Witness’services had been dispensed with by the Company. G. W. Markie, carter, employed at the works, said that he was on Thursday morning carting along the road in front of the works. He saw deceased at about 10 o’clock, going to the trap to tap the main. Witness saw deceased every five minutes as he was passing for about half-, an hour. The first time he passed Leod was haling water out of the trap with a bucket, the second time of passing McLeod was sitting in the well stroking a dog on the path; on the third occasion McLeod was lying on his back on the ground, with Mcßae beside him. Witness saw deceased alive at the well fifteen or twenty minutes after his first going there.